Axel Rudakubana received a 52-year sentence for murdering three girls, but why wasn’t he given a whole-life order?
Southport: Axel Rudakubana, just 18, was sentenced to a minimum of 52 years for the horrific murder of three young girls. It was a brutal knife attack that shocked the community.
He used a 20cm kitchen knife to stab the girls, aged six to nine, during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Can you imagine the fear that must have gripped everyone there?
Rudakubana, wearing a green hoodie and a face mask, traveled five miles from his home to carry out this attack. It’s chilling to think about how premeditated it was.
Sir Keir Starmer called this incident a “line in the sand” for the UK and announced a public inquiry into what happened. It’s a big deal, and people want answers.
Even with such a long sentence, Rudakubana didn’t get a whole life order. That’s where things get a bit complicated. The Independent explains why he avoided that harsher punishment.
So, what’s a whole life order? It’s a sentence for the most serious murder cases, meaning the offender will never get out of prison. There are currently 65 people in the UK serving these sentences.
Some notorious names like Rosemary West and Lucy Letby are among them. But here’s the kicker: a judge can’t give a whole life order to anyone under 18 at the time of their crime.
Rudakubana was 17 when he committed these terrible acts. Even though he’s 18 now, the law doesn’t allow for a whole life order in his case. It’s a tough pill to swallow for many.
