Image source, Family photosA lawyer for the families of the children murdered by Southport killer Axel Rudakubana has said his transfer from prison to a psychiatric hospital may be an attempt to “manipulate the system” and added “being evil does not mean that you’re suffering with psychosis”.
Rudakubana, 19, was given a life sentence for the murder of three children – Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7 – and attempted murder of eight other children and two adults.
On Thursday, he was moved from HMP Belmarsh to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital in Berkshire.
Prisoners who are considered to present a risk to staff, inmates or themselves because of mental disorders can be moved to hospital under the Mental Health Act.
Next Wednesday marks two years since Rudakubana carried out the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July 2024.
Lawyer Chris Walker, who represents the three bereaved families, said they “don’t believe the merits” of the transfer on the basis of a mental health issue and is calling for more information from ministers.
“In my mind this is a new event, this is something which occurred whilst he was at prison, and we at this stage don’t believe the merits of it in terms of him because I’ve seen no evidence at all until today which suggests he has a significant mental health disorder,” Walker told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme.
“We do have an evil person but being evil does not mean that you’re suffering with psychosis of some sort.
“We need to know is this a single event, is this a recurring event, is this him playing the system and we need those answers.”
The Prison Officers’ Association told the BBC that Rudakubana was transferred due to a deterioration in his mental health.
Walker added in a separate statement that the news would “devastate” the families at any time but “the fact that this has occurred as we approach the second anniversary in our view is another move by AR who would appear to be attempting, once again, to manipulate the system”.
“We have been given the barest of details and whilst we are supporting the families through this we are urgently seeking a meeting with the appropriate authorities to understand the situation before commenting further.”
Prior to Rudakubana’s sentencing last year, his defence lawyer told the court no psychiatric evidence could suggest a mental disorder contributed to his actions.
Stan Reiz KC added that his client had appeared to have been a “normal child” until he reached 13.
“However, he did make a transition from a normal, well-disciplined child to someone who was capable of committing acts of such shocking and senseless violence.”
Handing down the judgement, Justice Julian Goose said: “Many who have heard the evidence might describe what he did as evil, who could dispute it?”
He added: “I am sure Rudakubana had the settled determination to carry out these offences and had he been able to, he would have killed each and every child – all 26 of them.”
The Southport Public Inquiry has heard evidence about his past mental health conditions.
In May 2025 there was an investigation after Rudakubana allegedly attacked a prison officer with boiling water.
Confirming the transfer on Thursday, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said the families of those murdered and injured would be in the country’s heart forever and “our thoughts remain with them” and said it does not change Rudakubana’s sentence.
Rudakubana was given a 52-year prison sentence in January 2025 but the judge was unable to impose a whole life order due to Rudakubana being 17 when he carried out the attack. He will likely never be released.
Under the Mental Health Act, the MoJ is likely to have had no choice but to accept doctors’ recommendations about whether Rudakubana could be held safely in prison.
The law requires he be transferred back to prison when he no longer requires treatment in hospital. His sentence is not being converted into a “hospital order”, which would mean he stayed at Broadmoor.
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