An 18-year-old teen accused of killing three girls and injuring 10 others in a stabbing spree at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England is set to face trial early next year. Axel Rudakubana is scheduled to go on trial on January 20 at Liverpool Crown Court on charges including three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder, possession of the poison ricin, and having an al-Qaida manual.
During a recent hearing, family members, friends of the victims, and one of the injured instructors were present in court while Rudakubana appeared via video link from Belmarsh prison in south London. The accused, who has not entered a plea, remained silent and covered his face with a sweatshirt, refusing to acknowledge the judge.
Justice Julian Goose expressed frustration at Rudakubana's lack of response during the hearing, emphasizing that he could be heard. The trial is anticipated to last four to six weeks, with another hearing scheduled for December 12.
Rudakubana was initially charged in August with the murder of three girls aged 6, 7, and 9, as well as the stabbing of 10 others in the town of Southport. In a subsequent charge, he was accused of producing the biological toxin ricin and possessing terrorism-related information found on his computer.
Authorities have clarified that the stabbings have not been classified as acts of terrorism due to an unclear motive. The incident led to false accusations on social media, prompting far-right activists to incite anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiments. Rudakubana, born in Wales to Rwandan immigrants, was wrongly identified as an asylum seeker, sparking riots across England and Northern Ireland that resulted in over 1,200 arrests and numerous convictions.
