The father of the Southport killer testified at the inquiry on Thursday, expressing deep sorrow to the families of the three murdered girls. Alphonse Rudakubana broke down as he faced bereaved relatives at Liverpool Town Hall, telling them: «I cry for them all the time because I have a reminder (of) my son who turned to be a monster. When I cry for him I remember them and cry for them. I'm so ashamed. I lost the courage to save their little angels. I'm so sorry.» Representing the families, Nicholas Bowen KC responded bluntly: «They have complete disdain for your excuses and the manner in which you have answered questions.»
The inquiry heard shocking details about the week before the attack on July 29, 2024. Alphonse Rudakubana physically stopped his 17-year-old son Axel from leaving their Lancashire home on July 22, finding him "hyper, not himself, breathing heavily" with a rucksack. When his son threatened him with a knife and stabbed the mattress, Alphonse pleaded with a taxi driver: «Please don't take him, he is not my son.» Later that day, Axel warned: «Next time, if you stop me, there will be consequences.»
Knowledge of weapons and financial support
The father admitted knowing his son possessed a "small arsenal" of weapons including a machete, bow and arrows, and crude Molotov cocktails made by taping matches to bottles. Despite this, he continued giving Axel money without questioning its use, even rewarding him up to £80 for showering three times. When packages labeled "bladed article" arrived at their home, Alphonse testified he was "probably half asleep" and didn't bother reading the labels. Senior counsel Nicholas Moss KC called this a "serious breach of your duty as a parent."
Why he didn't call police
When questioned why he failed to contact authorities despite knowing his son threatened violence and hoarded weapons, Alphonse Rudakubana admitted: «Yes, we knew what to do….but we wanted to buy some time, just some time…we knew that it was a police matter this time, but yeah, I didn't have that courage to do it on my own. We weren't ready.» He explained that major family decisions required his wife's agreement, and acknowledged: «I'm ashamed. I accept that responsibility. It was obvious then but it required so much courage.» The father said they believed they had "two months" before any crisis, but "the week came too soon."
Axel Rudakubana murdered Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport. He pleaded guilty in January and was sentenced to life with a minimum of 52 years. The inquiry continues to examine potential missed opportunities to prevent the tragedy, with Axel's mother Laetitia Muzayire due to testify later Thursday.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
