Taylor Swift-Themed Dance Class Stabbing Suspect Pleads Guilty to Murder

A British man has admitted to murdering 3 women and making an attempt to kill 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class within the UK final 12 months.

18-year-old Axel Rudakubana shocked the courtroom on day one in every of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court docket Monday by pleading responsible to murdering Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6. He’s dealing with life behind bars when he is sentenced Thursday.

Axel, who was 17 on the time of the assault, additionally pled responsible to 10 counts of tried homicide and fees for having ricin and an Al-Qaeda handbook linked to the July 29 assault in Southport, UK, final 12 months.

He had persistently stayed mum by all his courtroom appearances … till he lastly stated “guilty” to every of the 16 fees. Rudakubana had beforehand pled not responsible within the trial, and Monday’s plea was a shock because the trial started.

The assault wasn’t labeled a terrorist act for the reason that motive was unclear — and prosecutors say they nonetheless don’t know why he did it.