A teenager will go on trial on Monday accused of murdering three young girls in a knife attack at a Southport dance class, a crime that horrified the nation and was followed by days of nationwide rioting.
Axel Rudakubana, of Banks in Lancashire, will stand trial at Liverpool Crown Court charged with the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine; Bebe King, six; and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; who died following the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at The Hart Space shortly before midday on July 29.
He is accused of the attempted murder of eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes in the same incident.
Rudakubana is also accused of producing the deadly poison ricin and possession of an al Qaeda training manual.
British-born Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time of the incident, did not speak when asked how he pleaded at a hearing in December, so not-guilty pleas were entered by the judge, Julian Goose, on his behalf.
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