Southport killer is trying to ‘retraumatise families from his cell’ by playing the system, says victims’ lawyer

THE Southport murderer is trying “to retraumatise the families from his cell”, the victims’ lawyer said. Axel Rudakubana, who is serving a 52-year life sentence for killing three girls, was earlier this week transferred from Belmarsh Prison to Broadmoor Hospital nearly two years on from the horror attack. Rudakubana has been transferred to Broadmoor Hospital Credit: PA Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar were murdered by Rudakubana on 29th July 2024 Credit: Handout Rudakubana, now 19, murdered Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and attempted the murder of eight other children and two adults. It’s been nearly two years since he carried out the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29, 2024. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! It was confirmed by the Ministry of Justice that the killer was transferred to the category A psychiatric facility. Chris Walker, who is representing the three bereaved families, told BBC Breakfast that this decision highlighted a concerning “pattern” in Rudakubana’s behaviour that is “retraumatising” for the victims’ families. The killer will stay in a ‘uni room-style’ cell at Broadmoor Credit: Scott White and Hookins He will have access to a state of the art gym, an on-site cafe and shop Credit: Scott White and Hookins Walker said: “It’s a deep concern of mine that this is a pattern starting to develop by him trying to retraumatise the families from his cell, and it’s a deep concern that this is going to occur every anniversary.” He also pointed out that there was “no suggestion” that Rudakubana was under any form of “psychosis” when he carried out the murders. The families were only informed of the decision in a letter on July 22, but were not given details on why the transfer happened. Walker said: “With the vacuum of information, the concern is that he’s manipulating the situation to his own benefit.” Most read in The Sun He added: “For it to come out the week before the anniversary seems coincidental to us. “Whether that’s been poorly handled by the Government, or whether it’s designed by him.” Sally Jameson, a junior housing minister and former prison officer, said on Friday that Rudakubana would be returned to prison “as soon as possible” but that she was not familiar with why the decision had been taken to move him. Offenders who present an increased risk, and cannot be managed safely in a prison environment because of mental disorders, can be moved to secure psychiatric units like Broadmoor. People in these units are treated as patients rather than prisoners. The Sun revealed that Rudakubana will live in a university hall-style room – and be free to spend his days at Broadmoor reading, watching films and TV and writing to friends and relatives. The triple child killer will also have access to a state of the art gym, an on-site cafe and shop and even the hospital’s resident hairdresser and dentist. Walker said: “When he did what he did, it was carefully planned, it was meticulous and it was designed to cause the maximum distress to society. “There’s no evidence of any mental health disorder being a component of his crime. There’s no evidence of psychosis. “The families say, given that, he needs to serve a prison sentence, he should not be going to hospital. He needs to be in prison.” Walker said that the letter included the offer of a meeting with the Director for Public Protection, which he will attend on behalf of the families. EXCLUSIVE: Rudakubana's cushy life at Broadmoor MURDERER Axel Rudakubana will live in a university hall-style room – and be free to spend his days at Broadmoor reading, watching films and TV and writing to friends and relatives. The triple child killer will have access to a state of the art gym, an on-site cafe and shop and even the hospital’s resident hairdresser and dentist. He will be monitored around the clock and escorted around the 60-acre site by guards, with security measures implemented to keep him safe from dangerous ‘patients’ who include killers Robert Napper, Stockwell Strangler Kenneth Erskine and cannibal Peter Bryan. Rudakubana will not have to work like prison inmates do – but will be expected to undergo intensive therapy and rehab programmes with psychologists and mental health professionals. He is likely to be prescribed anti-psychotic medication with doses varying depending on how he behaves. Inmates at the secure hospital are allowed to watch TVs with Freeview packages plus vetted DVDs. They are encouraged to spend time outdoors, including on escorted walks around the Berkshire facility’s lush central gardens. Rudakubana will also be encouraged to join woodwork and pottery workshops and join educational classes if safe to do so. Staff are barred from calling people prisoners or referring to their ‘cells’ – which look like modern university halls with built in desks and wardrobes. And patients are given more freedom than in jails – and allowed more funds in their accounts to spend on canteen treats like fizzy drinks, chocolate, crisps, magazines and writing materials. Broadmoor – which held Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe from 1984 to 2016 when he was returned to jail – underwent a £250 million refurbishment in 2019 with new wards, buildings and bedrooms. A source, who visited Sutcliffe at Broadmoor and in jail, said: “Broadmoor is like a normal hospital, but nicer – with just a bit of security at the front like when you are going into court. “It is comfortable and relaxed and it’s unbelievable Rudakubana has been moved there. “There are A4-sized signs up saying, ‘Please remember people in here are not prisoners they are patients’. They are scattered about in corridors and in rooms. “There are also regular ward parties and celebrations of things like birthdays and Christmas. “His day to day life will be much more enjoyable and comfortable and relaxed than it was at Belmarsh.”