Southport killer accused of throwing boiling sugar water at prison officer
Axel Rudakubana, who is serving a life sentence for murdering three children in Southport, has appeared in court facing new charges over alleged assaults on prison staff. He is accused of three assaults and possessing a weapon in custody.
Twenty-year-old Axel Rudakubana appeared via video link at Westminster Magistrates' Court to face a charge of attempted grievous bodily harm against a prison officer. Prosecutors allege that on 8 May last year he threw boiling water mixed with sugar through the hatch of his cell door at HMP Belmarsh.
Prosecutor Catherine Pattinson told the court that prompt medical treatment prevented the officer from suffering lasting injury.
Rudakubana faces two further assault charges. On 6 May 2025, he allegedly threatened to douse a female officer if she refused to hand him a newspaper, then threw an unknown liquid at her through the door hatch. On 28 October last year, he is accused of punching a male officer in the face while the officer was trying to confirm whether he had taken his medication.
He is also charged with possessing an offensive weapon — sharpened stone shards allegedly pried from his cell floor and found stuck beneath a shelving unit. When questioned, he reportedly said he was keeping the shards for self-defence.
During Monday's hearing, held via link from Broadmoor secure psychiatric hospital, Rudakubana spoke only to confirm he could hear proceedings and to state his name and date of birth. He was not asked to enter pleas and was remanded into custody ahead of a hearing at the Old Bailey on 19 October.
Rudakubana is currently serving a life sentence for murdering three girls — nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, six-year-old Bebe King, and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe — at a dance class in Southport in July 2024. He was also convicted of the attempted murder of eight other children and two adults during that attack.
