Southport killer Axel Rudakubana accused of trying to ‘manipulate the system’ for move to hospital
The lawyer representing the families of three girls murdered by Axel Rudakubana has accused the Southport killer of trying to “manipulate the system” after he was transferred from prison to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital.
Rudakubana was sentenced to at least 52 years in prison for the murder of nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar; Bebe King, six; and the attempted murder of seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and eight other children and two adults.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed officials had approved the transfer to Broadmoor on behalf of ministers, but a ministry spokesman insisted it would not alter the killer’s 52-year sentence.
Offenders who are increased risk and cannot be managed safely in a prison environment due to mental health disorders may be transferred to secure psychiatric units. People in these units are treated as patients, not prisoners.
Chris Walker of Bond Turner, who represents three bereaved Southport families, said in a statement: “The three families we represent have been informed of this development within the last 48 hours and we are confident they will be devastated by the news at any time, but in our view the fact that this has happened in the run-up to the second anniversary is yet another move by AR attempting to manipulate the system once again.
“We have been given the finest details and whilst we are supporting the families, we would like to urgently seek a meeting with the appropriate authorities to understand the situation before commenting further.”
Deputy housing minister and former prison officer Sally Jameson said Rudakubana would be returned to prison “as soon as possible” but did not know why the decision to move him had been made.
Asked how likely it was that she would be eligible for benefits after being moved to hospital, Ms Jameson told LBC: “That’s not true, I sincerely hope that he won’t be eligible for benefits.”
He added that prison hospitals “are not like ordinary hospitals.”
“He will be held under very stringent conditions that are appropriate to the crime he actually committed, but also appropriate to the level of security that needs to be placed around him,” he said.
“And I believe that he will return to prison and serve his sentence as soon as possible.
“And I agree that it has to happen under the most punishing and lonely circumstances.”
Mark Fairhurst, national chairman of the POA union, which represents prison, prison and secure psychiatric workers, said: “This despicable criminal has gamed the system and will now enjoy the freedoms afforded to mentally ill patients in secure psychiatric hospitals, including benefits funded by law-abiding taxpayers.
“My members will be at risk without the protections afforded to staff in prisons as they are now classified as patients.
“He should serve his entire sentence in solitary confinement in a prison. My thoughts are with the families of the victims and everyone affected by his heinous crimes.”
Move from category A prison Belmarsh to Broadmoor high security hospital appeared first protector on Thursday.
Whitehall sources told the newspaper the annual cost for patients in secure hospital units is more than £300,000, while other prisoners cost around £60,000.
A MOJ spokesman said: “The families of those killed and injured in Southport will forever be at the heart of this country and our thoughts remain with them.
“Any decision to transfer an offender is made following an independent, clinical assessment under the Mental Health Act. “Following stringent security checks, the offender has been transferred to a high-security psychiatric unit and will remain there until he is deemed fit to return to prison.
“The authorities approved this transfer on behalf of the ministers. This transfer does not change his sentence of 52 years, which he will serve every day.”
In May last year, while at HMP Belmarsh, Rudakubana allegedly attacked a prison officer with boiling water, using the kettle in his cell.
In the years before the Southport dance class attack, three separate referrals were made to the Government’s counter-terrorism programme, Prevent, about Rudakubana’s behaviour, as well as six separate calls to the police.
Rudakubana attacked a student with a hockey stick, used school computers to investigate the London Bridge terror attack and carried a knife on a bus.
When police raided Rudakubana’s home after the attack, knives, archery arrows and ricin, a biological toxin 6,000 times more toxic than cyanide, were found; There is also evidence that the equipment required for this item was purchased in 2022.
Liverpool’s Alder Hey children’s NHS trust previously confirmed he received NHS mental health care between 2019 and 2023, when he “left the relationship”.
Broadmoor in Berkshire is the oldest of the UK’s three high-security hospitals and has housed some of the UK’s most high-profile criminals, including Ronnie Kray and serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, also known as the Yorkshire Ripper.
Under the Mental Health Act, officials acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Justice have no choice but to accept clinical experts’ recommendations to transfer prisoners to a secure facility.
An offender in a secure hospital will be forced to receive treatment and participate in therapies before returning to prison or being released into the community.
The law allows for rapid return to prison when offenders no longer need hospital treatment.
