The parents of all three girls who died during an horrific knife attack in Southport decided not to attend the formal opening of their inquests this morning, as details of their deaths were made public. Bebe King, six and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, died at the Taylor Swift summer holiday dance class on Monday, July 29. Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, later died in hospital.
Today, a coroner paid tribute to the girls who were "full of life and energy". Their individual inquests were formally opened at Bootle Town Hall in Merseyside by senior coroner Julie Goulding. She told the hearing it was “impossible to adequately articulate the devastating lifelong effects of the truly tragic events of Monday, July 29 have had and will continue to have on the parents, families and friends of Elsie, Bebe and Alice, who cruelly lost there young lives in such horrific circumstances.
“The three young children were full of life and energy and will be missed beyond any description my woefully inadequate words may attempt to describe. I therefore offer my deepest condolences to Elsie, Bebe and Alice’s parents, families and friends and those heartfelt condolences of all of my staff here at the coroner’s court." The coroner then adjourned all three hearings.
Axel Rudakubana, 17, from Lancashire, is set to stand trial next year after being charged with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place. Family, friends and members of the local community have since paid their respects to the victims of the attack. Bebe’s family said: “No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as we try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe.
” Alice’s family said: “Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do, our princess, like we said before to you, you’re always our princess and no one would change that. Love from Your Hero Daddy and Mummy.” During a service at St Patrick’s Church in Southport yesterday afternoon, one speaker fought back tears as she said: “Alice, you are the most beautiful, strongest girl in the world and I hope you know we love you from the bottom of our hearts.
Keep smiling and dancing with the girls.” She read out another message from the family, which said: “We love you Alice, Your smile is extremely contagious and full of joy. You never fail to uplift everyone’s mood.
” The service, led by Father John Heneghan, featured hymns and speeches read in both English and Portuguese. One of Alice’s classmates said: “You will be in our hearts forever. You are the most kindest person in the world, and we know that you are the strongest girl we have ever met.
” A member of staff from Alice’s school read out messages from her classmates, including one which said: “Alice, so kind and caring, with a smile so bright, forever in our hearts.” Five other children and two adults were seriously injured in the attack at around 11.45am on July 29.
Around 400 people have since been arrested in riots that spread across the country after the incident. Around 100 individuals have been charged, according to director of public prosecutions Stephen Parkinson. Speaking on Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer promised communities “will be safe” after a Cobra meeting and said those taking part in the unrest will “feel the full force of the law”.
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