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The Home Secretary has urged the country to “ensure justice is done” as the man accused of murdering three girls in Southport goes on trial.
Eighteen-year-old Axel Rudakubana, of Banks, 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 in the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July.
The attacks sparked waves of riots over the summer which led to over 170 people being handed prison sentences.
Yvette Cooper said the “whole country” would be thinking of the families of the three girls, adding that it would be a “deeply traumatic” time for them.
“The most important thing for all of us is to ensure that the legal process can take its course, to respect the difficult job the court has to do, so there is a fair trial and justice can be done,” she said.
“There will be a time at the end of this trial to discuss what happened and the action needed in response to this horrific tragedy. But for now, and until the proceedings have concluded, the priority for all of us must be to ensure justice is done.”