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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Josh Salisbury

Elsie Dot Stancombe who died in Southport stabbings was 'sweetest child ever', says aunt

A seven-year-old girl killed in the Southport knife attack was "lovely, sweet and gentle", her great-aunt has said.

Jean Stevenson said Elsie Dot Stancombe was "absolutely the sweetest child you could ever wish to meet".

Ms Stevenson told how she had been helping to teach the youngster how to sew, and recalled her delight at being able to make her own top.

Speaking as she lay flowers close to the scene, she said: “I thought I could go on giving her lessons and passing my skills on.”

She added: "It's true what they say about the Southport community: a very close knit community, a very family-orientated area.

"Stuff like this just doesn't happen here."

The horrifying incident unfolded at the Hart Space community centre in Southport, where a "Taylor Swift Yoga and Dance Workshop" for primary school pupils was underway.

Multiple children also suffered injuries, as well as two adults – including yoga teacher Leanne Lucas – who are said to have tried to protect the youngsters.

The suspect was on Thursday named as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana after a judge lifted anonymity protections typically given to underage defendants accused of serious crimes.

In reaching his decision, Judge Andrew Menary KC said that social media misinformation about the case had helped stoke violence at protests.

These have taken place in Southport, London, Aldershot and Hartlepool among other places.

“Idiotic rioting is, in part, fed by nonsense online, which feeds on a vacuum,” Judge Menary said while sitting at Liverpool Crown Court.

The defendant, who is accused of the murders of three children and ten counts of attempted murder, was remanded into youth detention accommodation as criminal proceedings progress.

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