Southport Teenager Faces Murder Charges for Deaths of Three Girls in Court

A 17-year-old appeared in court on Thursday accused of the murder of three girls who were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside.

Hailing from Banks in Lancashire, the teenager was also charged with another 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.

The victims, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, were fatally stabbed during an attack at the dance class on Hart Street in Southport on Monday.

Additionally, eight other children sustained injuries, with five being in critical condition, along with two critically wounded adults.

The accused, whose identity is protected by law, was charged with the attempted murder of two adults, Leanne Lucas and John Hayes, as well as the attempted murder of the eight children involved, who are also legally unidentified.

He was remanded to youth detention and scheduled to appear at Liverpool Crown Court later that same day.

The accused arrived at the court at around 9 a.m. in a prison van accompanied by a large police escort.

He appeared before District Judge James Hatton at 10:21 a.m. in youth court, dressed in a baggy grey tracksuit and black slippers.

Upon entering the court, the boy glanced at the reporters seated behind the glass dock, smiling briefly before taking his seat.

He covered his face with his sweatshirt, kept his head down, and remained silent throughout the brief hearing.

None of the victims’ families or the defendant’s relatives were present in court for the proceedings.

Merseyside Police announced the charges during a midnight press conference on Thursday.

Chief Constable Serena Kennedy of Merseyside Police stated, “While these charges mark a significant development in this investigation, it is still an ongoing inquiry, and we are collaborating with Lancashire Police and counter-terrorism authorities in the northwest.”

Thousands of individuals gathered for a vigil in Southport on Tuesday evening to honor the victims, but violence erupted later, resulting in injuries to 53 police officers and three police dogs.

Southport seemed calm on Wednesday night, but the stabbings sparked unrest in other parts of the nation.

Protesters in London chanted “you’re not English any more,” throwing bottles and cans at police officers in riot gear on Whitehall, while in Hartlepool, County Durham, a police car was set on fire, and officers were pelted with bottles and eggs.

PA Media contributed to this report.