Katie Amess demands a guarantee that her father’s killer will never be released
Southport: A tragic incident unfolded when Axel Rudakubana was sentenced for the murders of three girls at a dance class. He was just 17 at the time, so he won’t get a whole-life order.
Even though he’ll receive a life sentence, former police chief Sir Peter Fahy thinks he might never get out. Katie Amess, daughter of Sir David Amess, isn’t satisfied with that. She wants a guarantee that Rudakubana will never walk free.
She expressed her concerns on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, saying it’s not enough to hope he’ll stay in prison. Katie believes that allowing any chance of release sends the wrong message to others who might consider similar actions.
Whole-life orders are usually for those 21 and older, but can be considered for younger offenders in special cases. Unfortunately, since Rudakubana was 17 during the crime, he doesn’t qualify.
Katie also called for an inquiry into the Government’s Prevent programme, noting the disturbing similarities between her father’s case and Rudakubana’s. Both had been referred to Prevent, but Rudakubana’s case was closed due to a lack of clear ideology.
She argued that Prevent isn’t stopping terrorist attacks; it’s allowing them to happen. Katie has been relentless in pushing for accountability, but feels like every door is being shut in her face.
After Rudakubana pleaded guilty, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a review of the Prevent programme. Lord David Anderson KC will lead this review, focusing on how to prevent serious cases from slipping through the cracks.
The Home Office is also looking into how referrals are made to Prevent, aiming to address violent behavior more effectively. This comes after officials realized that Rudakubana’s referrals should not have been closed, given his age and complex needs.
