Southport Inquiry: Killer’s Parents Must Face Accountability

Published: 07 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The parents of three young girls murdered in the Southport attack have faced searing scrutiny as they testified before a public inquiry, with the bereaved families calling for them to be “held to account for what they allowed to happen.” The case, which has gripped the nation, centres on Axel Rudakubana, whose shocking actions left the community in mourning and prompted a nationwide debate on parental responsibility and the prevention of violence.

Alphonse Rudakubana, 50, father of Axel, tearfully admitted to the inquiry that he had been aware of his son’s dangerous arsenal, which included knives, a bow and arrow, a sledgehammer, a jerry can, and a substance later identified as a crude attempt to make ricin. He acknowledged that his son had planned an attack at his former school, Range High in Merseyside, a full week before carrying out the murders at a Taylor Swift dance workshop. Despite this knowledge, he failed to alert authorities, citing fears that Axel would be taken into care or arrested.

“I am desperately sorry,” Rudakubana said during his testimony, which was delivered via videolink from a secret location for safety reasons. “I lost the courage to act. My son turned out to be a monster. I could have done far more to prevent this tragedy.”

However, the parents of the victims – Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine – were quick to rebuke these claims. They accused the Rudakubanas of denying responsibility and failing to take meaningful action when their son’s violent intentions became apparent.

Elsie’s parents, Jenni and David Stancombe, described the Rudakubanas’ testimony as “deeply distressing” and said they believed the couple were fully aware that Axel was capable of committing horrific acts. “We believe they should be held to account for what they allowed to happen,” they said. “They knew how dangerous he was, yet they stayed silent. They didn’t report their concerns, they didn’t act, and in doing so, they failed not only as parents but as members of our society.”

Alice’s parents, Alex and Sergio Aguiar, echoed these sentiments, emphasising that parental accountability should extend to preventing foreseeable harm. “Parents should be accountable for the actions and behaviours of their children when they fail to take reasonable steps to prevent harm,” they said.

Lauren and Ben King, Bebe’s parents, accused Rudakubana’s parents of being absent and avoiding their responsibilities. “What we’re struggling to comprehend is not just their failure then, but their failure now – to acknowledge, to take responsibility, to face up to what they allowed to happen,” they said.

During the inquiry, Rudakubana admitted that he should have contacted the police when he prevented his son from taking a taxi to his former school with a knife on 23 July last year, seven days before the attack. Axel had been “lightly stabbing” the bed in his bedroom that morning while demanding another knife from his father. Rudakubana said he believed his son was planning arson at Range High and feared serious consequences if he involved law enforcement.

“Next time, if you stop me, there will be consequences,” Axel allegedly told his father after being prevented from going to the school, highlighting the teenager’s escalating threats and the danger posed to the public. Rudakubana described this encounter as “really frightening” and expressed shame at his failure to contact authorities.

Rudakubana’s wife, Laetitia Muzayire, who claimed asylum in the UK after surviving the Rwandan genocide, told the inquiry she had a deep-seated fear of knives. “I hate knives with all my heart,” she said, explaining that knives had been used to kill members of her family during the genocide. Despite this, she admitted to allowing Axel access to multiple knives, some of which were delivered to their home shortly before the attacks.

Rudakubana also admitted taking delivery of at least three knives for his son over the previous year, claiming he did not know that one of them was a machete despite the package being clearly labelled. In the days preceding the attack, another package containing knives was delivered and left in the landing, unmonitored.

During questioning by Nicholas Moss KC, counsel to the inquiry, Rudakubana expressed his remorse to the victims’ families. “My deepest sympathy, my condolences for the beautiful angels whose lives were taken by my son,” he said. “I am so desperately sorry to them and everyone else who’s been harmed. I cry for them all the time … because we have a reminder of my son, who turned out to be a monster.”

The testimony has reignited a national discussion about parental responsibility, particularly when parents are aware of dangerous tendencies in their children. Legal experts have suggested that while criminal liability for parental failure is rarely enforced in the UK, inquiries such as this highlight the societal expectation that parents must take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm.

The inquiry has also raised concerns about the systemic factors that may have contributed to this tragedy, including gaps in mental health support, early intervention measures, and community reporting mechanisms. It has become clear that the families’ pain is compounded by what they perceive as a failure of Rudakubana’s parents to act, even when faced with clear warning signs.

Experts in child welfare note that the Southport case is emblematic of broader challenges in preventing youth violence. “When parents are aware of escalating behaviour and fail to seek help, it places communities at risk,” said Dr. Claire Middleton, a child safeguarding specialist. “Early intervention and reporting are crucial, and this case is a tragic reminder of what can happen when those steps are not taken.”

The inquiry is expected to continue over the coming weeks, examining not only the actions of Axel Rudakubana but also the wider systems intended to protect children and communities from foreseeable harm. Families, the public, and policymakers alike will be watching closely, with the hope that lessons learned will prevent future tragedies.

As the nation reflects on this heartbreaking case, the voices of the victims’ families remain central, calling for accountability, recognition of the failures, and meaningful steps to ensure that similar preventable tragedies do not occur again.