The grieving parents of two school girls murdered in the Southport knife rampage last night spoke of their hopes of finding ‘light in the dark’ as they criticized the courts for televising the sentencing of killer Axel Rudakubana.
In their first interview since the horrific attack last year, the parents of Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe paid an emotional tribute to their children, with Elsie’s mother Jenni declaring: ‘It was an honor to be her mum.’
They decided to speak out so their daughters are remembered for their personalities and characters – and not by the televised sentencing remarks of the judge at Liverpool Crown Court, Mr Justice Goose, who graphically described their horrific injuries.
‘We know it has to be heard in court but why did the whole nation need to see it on television?’ Bebe’s father, who cannot be named, told The Sunday Times.
Rudakubana murdered Elsie, seven, Bebe, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last July.
Eight other girls and two adults, including Leanne Lucas, a home tutor who ran the two-hour-class, were seriously injured during the horrifying 12-minute attack.
Ms Lucas was Elsie’s private tutor, giving her extra help reading and writing.
Last month Rudakubana, 18, was jailed for a minimum of 52 years for murdering the three girls and the attempted murder of ten others, along with producing the poison ricin and possessing terrorist material and a knife.
Elsie Dot Stancombe with mother Jenni, father David and younger sister Rosie, aged three
Paying tribute to her daughter, Bebe’s (pictured) mother, 41, said she was a natural performer with a love of musicals.
Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, also died at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last July
Last month Axel Rudakubana, 18, was jailed for a minimum of 52 years for murdering the three girls and the attempted murder of ten others, along with producing the poison ricin and possessing terrorist material and a knife
Jenni Stancombe, 35, last night described the appalling moment another mother phoned her to say ‘somebody’s stabbed the kids’ at the dance class.
‘It’s a five minute drive from ours and we must have got there in a minute,’ she said. ‘We kept our hands on the horn, going faster and faster, jumping every red light on the road, we were on the other side of the road, people throwing their hands up to us. We got there and just deserted the car in the middle of the road and just ran.’
Elsie’s father, David, 36, added: ‘No human being should ever have to witness what we witnessed on that day.’ Ms Stancombe, a Sainsbury’s store manager, said her daughter was ‘one of a kind’.
‘Sometimes I think people are born special, and I genuinely believe she was. Everything she did was pure enthusiasm.’
Mr Stancombe recalled how his daughter would cycle alongside him as he ran to the nearby train station and revealed he has only recently found the strength to look at photographs of her again.
The couple described how they received a ‘really powerful’ message of support when the Princess of Wales visited the families in Southport in October – her first public engagement since finishing chemotherapy.
‘That meant so much to Jenni,’ Mr Stancombe, a postman, said.
‘Because it was her first public appearance. I won’t say what they said to us, but what they shared with us was really, really powerful, and it was a powerful message and heartfelt, and it meant a lot.’
The family criticised the courts for televising the sentencing of Rudakubana (Pictured: Court artist sketch of an empty chair in the dock as Mr Justice Goose speaks during the sentencing of Axel Rudakubana at Liverpool Crown Court, watched by prosecutor Deanna Heer KC (left))
A court artist’s sketch of Axel Rudakubana, 18, at Liverpool Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to murdering three young girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class
People take part in a vigil near to the scene on Hart Street in Southport on July 30, 2024
Ms Stancombe had shared details of the dance class with around 50 parents on a WhatsApp group and the 23 places quickly sold out. Elsie initially appeared to have missed out on a place, but in a harrowing revelation, it has now emerged that Ms Lucas ensured a spot was reserved for her.
Ms Stancombe said: ‘I was like, ‘oh no’, I knew it had sold out, so I messaged Leanne saying, ‘Aw, I totally forgot to pay for Elsie’.
‘And she messaged saying, ‘No problem. I’ll always have a place for Elsie.’ And she kept one. I just always think if she’d given it away…
‘But then I would never have wished this on anybody else.’
Bebe’s mother was at a check-out in Marks & Spencer when her husband phoned from the scene of the attack. She immediately ran outside and jumped into a taxi.
Her 43-year-old husband, who had been desperately searching for his daughter in the surrounding streets, described the chilling moment he was approached by a female police officer.
‘I could feel the blood drain from me and I went cold. I knew she was going to tell me something. And she did. ‘Are you Bebe’s dad?’ As soon as I said yes she said she had passed away.’
Paying tribute to her daughter, Bebe’s mother, 41, said she was a natural performer with a love of musicals.
Elsie’s mother revealed that her daughter initially appeared to have missed out on a place in the class, but Ms Lucas ensured a spot was reserved for her
Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool allowed Bebe’s parents to spend days with their daughter in a bereavement suite before the funeral
People look at floral tributes on Maple Street, Southport, on August 1, 2024
Floral tributes were quickly laid at the scene of after the death of the three young girls
‘One of the things that was really special about her was that she was hilarious. She used to make me belly laugh. She would do impressions. She would try stupid accents. Even when she was a baby she would have me belly laughing.’
Describing Bebe and Elsie, Bebe’s mother added: ‘I literally just think they’re angels.
‘Bebe operated on such a high frequency. She had this power to connect with people and the relationships she had with all her family members were different but very special. She had this innate kindness. She had a spark.’
Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool allowed Bebe’s parents to spend days with their daughter in a bereavement suite before the funeral.
‘We spent a week with her after, and she was perfect. It was like she was asleep. She had pyjamas on. Even though it was hard for us at first, we know now, for us, it was the right thing to do. I held her hand. All our family came. We got her christened.’
On the last day, her mother and father did a final bedtime routine, reading her Jack and the Beanstalk, her favourite book.
‘I kissed her, and that’s how we will remember her,’ her mother said.
Speaking of the future, Bebe’s mother added: ‘We can’t live our lives in anger. She was the most positive, bubbliest girl and we have to honour that. It has brought our families and us closer. And we have to respect her and try to live as full a life as we can. We have to live for Bebe. And honour her. And find light in the dark.’
