Not guilty pleas entered for Southport stabbings suspect Axel Rudakubana after he refuses to speak

Not guilty pleas have been entered on behalf of Southport stabbings suspect Axel Rudakubana after he refused to speak in court.

The 18-year-old appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today by video-link from Belmarsh prison, wearing a grey tracksuit.

He didn't answer when asked to confirm his name and sat fiddling with his hands as a prison officer confirmed he could hear the court.

Rudakubana refused to reply when the clerk read out the indictment and the judge Mr Justice Goose directed not guilty pleas should be entered on all 16 counts.

He is charged with three counts of murder, 10 of attempted murder and possession of a kitchen knife over the attack in the Merseyside town on 29 July.

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar were killed, while eight other children, aged between seven and 13, were injured, along with yoga instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.

Rudakubana was aged 17 at the time of the attack at The Hart Space, which has not been declared terror-related, according to Merseyside Police.

He was later charged with producing ricin and allegedly possessing an al Qaeda training manual apparently found in searches of his home in Banks, Lancashire, in the days after the mass stabbing.

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The first additional charge, under the Biological Weapons Act 1974, states that he produced a biological toxin, namely ricin, on or before 29 July.

The second, under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000, alleges he possessed a PDF file entitled "Military Studies In The Jihad Against The Tyrants: The Al-Qaeda Training Manual".

Rudakubana is due to face trial at the same court on 20 January, with the case expected to last up to four weeks.

There were around 15 family members of the victims in court for today's hearing, including Alice's parents.

At times, Rudakubana swayed his head from side to side, bowed his head towards his knees and wobbled his jaw.

The judge told him: "Your trial will now take place on 20 January and you will be transferred from where you are now to a more convenient place for the purposes of attending this court."

(c) Sky News 2024: Not guilty pleas entered for Southport stabbings suspect Axel Rudakubana after he refuses t