A 17-YEAR-OLD boy accused of murdering three children in a rampage at a Taylor Swift dance class came from a “very quiet” family, according to a neighbour.
Axel Muganwa Rudakubana was able to be unmasked today after a judge lifted reporting restrictions – just days before his 18th birthday.
Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar were knifed to death in the mass stabbing in Southport.
Eight other children suffered stab wounds in the horror, with five in a stable condition in hospital along with two adults.
Rudakubana, 17, rocked back and forth in the dock as he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today charged with three counts of murder.
He is also accused of ten counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article – a curved kitchen knife used in the attack.
One neighbour had earlier described his family as “quiet” and “normal”.
Speaking to The Telegraph, they said: “In all the time I have lived here, I have never spoken to the lad. I’ve never seen him out on his own.
“I think I’ve probably only ever seen him on two or three occasions. They just seemed a normal family.
“They were very quiet. The dad would say ‘hello’ and ‘how are you?’, that sort of thing.
“I used to see the dad helping his other child in and out of the car. But the lad was never out.
“It was shocking to discover it was a neighbour who had been arrested.”
Usually, any defendants aged under 18 are entitled to anonymity but Judge Andrew Menary KC declined to make such an order to conceal his identity.
He instead announced Rudakubana could be named after hearing legal submissions – telling the court that not doing so would allow others to “spread misinformation”.
He said: “Whilst I accept it is exceptional given his age, principally because he is 18 in six days’ time, I do not make an order under section 45.
“Continuing to prevent the full reporting has the disadvantage of allowing others to spread misinformation, in a vacuum.”
Rudakubana, who lives in Banks, Lancashire, but is from Cardiff originally, was remanded into custody until October 25.
No plea was entered but a provisional trial date, lasting six weeks, was scheduled for January 20.
The teen earlier appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court where he smiled as entered the dock.
Rudakubana then covered his face using the sleeve from his grey prison-issue tracksuit in the dock.
USUALLY a defendant under the age of 18 is granted anonymity - meaning no media are allowed to name them or picture them.
In this case, Judge Andrew Menary KC took the unusual step to identify Rudakubana to prevent further misinformation being spread.
He first heard legal submissions for 20 minutes before declining to make an order that would protect the teen’s identity.
The judge also referred to recent rioters as “idiots” fuelled by “nonsense online” after protests erupted following false information spread about the teen.
Explaining his choice to lift the order, the judge said: “Whilst I accept it is exceptional given his age, principally because he is 18 in six days’ time, I do not make an order under section 45.
“Continuing to prevent the full reporting has the disadvantage of allowing others to spread misinformation, in a vacuum.”
The judge also chose not to impose an order as Rudakubana will turn 18 in six days time – meaning any order would have expired then anyway.
He said an order preventing Rudakubana being named until his 18th birthday would have “little practical effect in terms of protecting the welfare of the defendant or his family”.
It can now be revealed that Rudakubana was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents.
He has an older brother, who was also born in the Welsh capital, according to reports.
Rudakubana moved to Banks, a village in Lancashire located a few miles from Southport, in 2013.
The horror unfolded on July 29 as children enjoyed a Taylor Swift Yoga and Dance Workshop at a community centre.
Terrified witnesses described the rampage as a “horror film” as the teen allegedly stabbed children at random.
Hero dance teacher Leanne Lucas is understood to have been knifed in the arms, neck and back as she used her body to shield young girls from the knifeman.
Her colleague Heidi Liddle escaped uninjured after bravely locking some of the children inside a toilet.
Another adult, Jonathan Hayes, was stabbed in the leg as he tried to fend off the attacker after running into the class when he heard screams.
Police today confirmed two children had been released from hospital, while five remain for treatment.
The attack has sparked riots across the country – despite the local community calling for calm.
Thugs set fire to a police car and hurled bricks at cops in Hartlepool last night as tensions flared.
In London, 100 people were arrested after clashes erupted in Whitehall.
Flares were hurled at the gates of Downing Street and protesters attempted to kick fences down before they were stopped by police.
Rioters also fought with cops in Southport outside a mosque following the horror attack.
Merseyside Police said more than 50 officers were injured amid the carnage.
It came after false claims were spread online that the alleged killer was an asylum seeker.
The mum of victim Elsie Stancombe later condemned the violence and urged protesters to stop.
Sir Keir Starmer will meet with senior policing leaders in Downing Street today to offer them the government’s full backing.
Chief Constable of Merseyside Police Serena Kennedy said: “Whilst these charges are a significant milestone within this investigation, this remains very much a live investigation and we continue to work with our partners from Lancashire Police and counter-terrorism police in the North West.”
