A 17-YEAR-OLD boy appeared in court on Thursday (Aug 1), charged with the murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport. The victims, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were fatally stabbed on Monday when a knifeman entered the dance class on Hart Street, Merseyside.
Eight other children suffered knife wounds, with five in critical condition. Two adults were also critically injured. The suspect arrived at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court around 9.30am in a white prison van, accompanied by a large police escort. The hearing began just after 10am.
Following the attack, violent disorder erupted across the country. More than 100 people were arrested during a protest in Whitehall on Wednesday night.
Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Serena Kennedy, announced in a press conference just after midnight on Thursday that a 17-year-old boy from Banks has been charged with the murders of Alice, Bebe, and Elsie Dot. He also faces 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article. Due to his age, the defendant, born in Cardiff, cannot be named for legal reasons.
Thousands attended a vigil in Southport on Tuesday evening to pay respects to the victims. However, violence later broke out, resulting in injuries to 53 police officers and three police dogs. Five men were arrested in connection with the unrest.
In response to the riots, Elsie Dot’s mother, Jenni Stancombe, pleaded on Facebook for an end to the violence: “This is the only thing that I will write, but please please stop the violence in Southport tonight. The police have been nothing but heroic these last 24 hours and they and we don’t need this.”
The Prime Minister will meet senior police leaders in Downing Street on Thursday afternoon, following violent unrest in multiple parts of the country. He is expected to assert that those exploiting the right to protest to incite hatred or commit violent acts will face “the full force of the law.”
The 17-year-old suspect has been remanded into youth detention accommodation and will appear at Liverpool Crown Court later on Thursday. Around 20 members of the press attended the Youth Court hearing before District Judge James Hatton at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court. The hearing began at 10.04am, with discussions about reporting restrictions scheduled for later in the day before the Recorder of Liverpool, a more senior judge.
The defendant, who arrived at court at 9am, was brought into the dock at 10.27am. Flanked by three members of staff and dressed in a grey prison-issue tracksuit, he used his jumper to cover his mouth before sitting with his head bowed. He did not speak as his name, address, and date of birth were read out by the court clerk. The charges, including the attempted murders of Leanne Lucas and John Hayes, were formally put to him.
