Southport stabbings: Parents of Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe pay tribute to daughters
Parents of two of the victims of the Southport murders have paid tribute to their daughters, describing them as “pure light” and “so brave”.
Warning: Some readers may find details in this article distressing
Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain, the parents of Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, described how they wanted their daughters to be remembered.
Along with Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, they were murdered by Axel Rudakubana while attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on 29 July last year.
Elsie Dot Stancombe (left) and Bebe King (right)
The attack shocked the nation and led to riots across the country in light of misinformation about the killer’s identity.
Rudakubana, 18, was jailed last month for a minimum of 52 years after admitting three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder.
Recently, a rapid review into his contact with anti-terror scheme Prevent found his case should have been kept open.
Axel Rudakubana. Pic: Merseyside police
‘So mighty and so strong’
While a clip of Bebe playing outside was shown, her parents, who weren’t pictured during the interview for legal reasons, told the show: “She was so mighty but so strong but so kind at the same time.”
They described visiting her in the hospital after the attack, reading to her and lying next to her to say their “final goodbye”.
“I feel like a lioness and I’ve got to protect my child. We’ve got to make sure she isn’t defined by this. She was pure light. She was pure joy,” Bebe’s mother said.
A ribbon left in tribute to the young girls killed in Southport
‘We’ll never feel true happiness again‘
Jenni and David Stancombe, the parents of Elsie, described their daughter as fearless and brave.
In the aftermath of the attack, Taylor Swift asked to meet the families at one of her shows at Wembley Stadium, Elsie’s mother told the show.
She added it would have been a “dream come true” for the youngster if she’d known the pop star had known she existed.
They added they had since started a charity called Elsie’s Story.
“We’ll never feel true happiness again… ever, but we might just feel a little bit of something if we make another child smile, for Elsie,” Ms Stancombe said.
She added the “massive” sentence Rudakubana received didn’t make them feel any better, because even if he spent the rest of his life in prison, it wouldn’t bring their daughter back.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Southport attack: Prevent review released
The parents of the two girls previously spoke to The Sunday Times and described the moment they were told “something awful had happened” to their children.
In the days following the stabbings, a number of false claims circulated on social media about the attack – including a false name and incorrect claims that the attacker was a recently arrived asylum seeker – with some of that misinformation believed to have fuelled rioting in various parts of England.
‘Highly likely’ killer will never be released
Rudakubana was 17 years old when he walked into the dance studio, indiscriminately stabbing his victims with a 20cm blade he had bought on Amazon.
As well as the murders of the three girls, he also admitted trying to murder eight other children, as well as instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.
He was given 13 life sentences, with the judge, Mr Justice Goose, saying the killings had caused “shock and revulsion” around the nation and said it was “highly likely” he would never be released.
Read more:
The 14 minutes of terror that left three children dead
Family of Rudakubana ‘moved to secret location’
The incident was not labelled a terror attack, although officers later found a plastic box containing the toxin ricin under his bed in the village of Banks, Lancashire, along with other weapons including a machete and arrows.
His devices revealed an obsession with violence, war and genocide, and he was found to be in possession of an al Qaeda training manual.
It fell outside the definition of terrorism because police couldn’t identify the killer’s motive
Neighbours have been left in “shock” and fear after the sudden deaths of a popular British couple in rural France.
Dawn and Andrew Searle, who have not yet been officially named by French authorities, moved to the hamlet of Les Pesquies, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, in southern France, around a decade ago.
The couple, who are in their 60s, are believed to have been found dead by a German friend who lives nearby, after Mr Searle did not turn up for one of their regular walks.
Andrew and Dawn Searle’s home
Ms Searle’s son, the country musician and former Hollyoaks star Callum Kerr, said in a statement posted online that he and his sister, Amanda Kerr, and Mr Searle’s two children, Tom and Ella Searle, were grieving.
Investigators are reportedly looking at whether the British couple were killed during a burglary, but all lines of enquiry, including murder-suicide or potential links to Mr Searle’s previous work as an organised crime financial investigator in the UK – are open.
A neighbour who knew them very well told Sky News they were “very happy people, joyful, very nice and would talk to people even if they didn’t know them. They always had a smile on their face.”
Ms Searle’s body was reportedly found outside their home, naked, with jewellery found scattered nearby, while Mr Searle’s body was discovered inside the house and had been gagged, according to local media.
There was little sign of their deaths at their home in the idyllic village on Monday, apart from the yellow and red Gendarmerie tape still on the white gate.
Police at the scene. Investigators are reportedly looking at whether the British couple were killed during a burglary
Locals described them as “good neighbours” who would often be seen walking their two dogs.
“Each year in September they would do this big dinner with all the village and invite everyone. They were very nice people,” said a woman who lived nearby.
“It’s very sad, it’s tragic. It’s a very low-key village, everybody gets along with each other and everybody’s in shock right now, they’re surprised.
“It’s scary too. The newspapers are saying possibly it’s because of what he used to do as a job. Here locally, nobody would hold grudges.”
The couple lived near Villefranche-de-Rouergue Aveyron in southern France
A LinkedIn profile in his name says he retired in 2015 after working for Barclays and Standard Life, and was “enjoying life in rural France”.
His page talks about having “over 20 years experience specialising in Financial Crime Prevention (AML, Fraud and Anti-Bribery) with a high profile in the industry and an extensive network of contacts”.
Another woman said she was about to buy a house in the hamlet but is now having second thoughts, adding: “I don’t feel safe here anymore”.
A postman said there was a big UK expat community in the area, with around 20 British people on his round.
The Searles have lived in the village permanently for 10 years and are said to be very integrated with the community.
“They would enjoy life, they would travel and sometimes go home as well,” a neighbour said.
Read more on Sky News:
Who benefits from Trump’s latest tariffs?
Police stop Ed Sheeran busking
Monkey ’caused nationwide power outage’
The mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Jean-Sebastien Orcibal, who also lives in Les Pesquies, previously told broadcaster France 3 the deaths were “something criminal, a homicide very clearly”.
However, the public prosecutor Nicolas Rigot-Muller said that while both “died violent deaths… all hypotheses remain open” while investigations continue.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in France and are liaising with the local authorities.”
UK
Teenage soldier Jaysley Beck found dead on military base had complained of ‘psychotic’ boss, inquest hears
A teenage soldier who was found dead at a military camp felt “trapped” by the “possessive and psychotic” behaviour of her army line manager, an inquest has heard.
Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on 15 December 2021.
A military inquiry report published in October 2023 described “an intense period of unwelcome behaviour” and said it was “almost certain this was a causal factor” in the 19-year-old’s death.
An inquest into her death heard Gunner Beck received thousands of messages from Bombardier Ryan Mason in a single month and his behaviour was “freaking her out”.
Her mother, Leighann McCready, described how her daughter “did not feel safe” as the situation involving Mr Mason intensified.
The Salisbury hearing was shown a series of WhatsApp messages between Gunner Beck and Mr Mason between October 2021 and December 2021.
Leighann McCready told the inquest her daughter did not feel safe
In one message to Gunner Beck, on 21 October, Mr Mason wrote: “Love you Jayse. As a friend.”
On 11 November, he wrote: “You’re amazing Jayse, I appreciate you so much, I love everything about you, even your flaws.”
On 25 November, Gunner Beck wrote to Mr Mason, telling him the situation was “becoming a bit too much” and “weighing me down”.
She added: “Totally honest here, I just don’t want to hear how you feel about me.”
Ms McCready said her daughter had received 3,600 messages from Mr Mason in the month of November – and Gunner Beck had expressed fears he was watching her.
She added her daughter had phoned her on 7 December when she was staying in a hotel in Newbury for work.
Gunner Beck was “upset and crying” and was “afraid something would happen,” Ms McCready said.
“Ryan was freaking her out,” she added.
Gunner Jaysley Beck was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire
‘It’s not normal behaviour’
The inquest was shown a draft text message that Gunner Beck had planned to send Mr Mason.
It said: “I honestly feel trapped in this whole situation, I have tried to act as normal as possible because we are working together but nothing normal about this situation.
“It’s possessive and psychotic, you have to understand it’s not normal behaviour.
“I am struggling to deal with all of this, it’s taking a huge toll on my own mental health for many personal reasons. I need time out.”
Read more on Sky News:
Snow hits parts of UK amid freezing winds
Rare Einstein ring spotted from far-away galaxy
The inquest was also told that Gunner Beck had complained of being assaulted by a sergeant who put his hand “between her legs” while on a team-building stay at Thorney Island, near Emsworth, Hampshire, in July 2021.
The hearing continues.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports10 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway