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Taylor Swift fans – little girls – lost their lives in a fatal stabbing.
Now, their killer has got his punishment.
2024 was a big year for Taylor. He made music records, completed his historic world tour, and royals felt lucky to tour with him.
But there were also painful moments that came with high visibility. A group of children were the victims of a horrific and violent attack. Now his attacker will remain behind bars for a long time.
Last summer, three young Taylor Swift fans lost their lives in a horrific crime
When Axel Rudakubana was 17 years old, British authorities arrested him on murder charges. A particularly gruesome murder.
Initially an unidentified knife-wielding attacker broke into a Taylor Swift-focused dance and yoga class in Southport, England. This was in July 2024. Taylor was not actually affiliated with the dance class.
The attacker used a knife to kill three young children: Babe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice da Silva Aguirre, 9. Several others were injured in the attack.
“The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport continues to weigh on me and I am in complete shock,” Taylor Swift wrote on her Instagram Story last summer.
“The loss of life and innocence, and the terrible trauma it caused to all the people, families and first responders who were there,” he continued at the time.
Taylor then concluded: “These were just little kids in dance class. I am completely at a loss as to how to express my condolences to these families.
What punishment did he get for stabbing Taylor Swift in dance class?
Judge Julian Goose described Axel Rudacubana, now 18, as someone he wanted to try for “the mass murder of innocent, happy young girls.”
British courts were unable to impose true life sentences. This is because Rudakubana, despite being convicted, was not yet 18 at the time of the crime.
However, the Associated Press reports that the judge handed down a sentence of 52 years – minus the six months he served in custody. It took more than half a century for him to become eligible for parole.
Like Taylor, the British royal family issued a statement.
“As parents, we can’t even imagine what the families, friends and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport are going through today,” William and Kate wrote on social media. “We send our love, thoughts and prayers to all those involved in this terrible and heinous attack.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales said at the time: “Thank you also to the emergency responders who, despite facing the most terrifying scenes, demonstrated compassion and professionalism when your community needed you most.”
Everyone feels for the survivors, for the families of the victims
Like Taylor Swift’s charity work, the royal family also strives to find positive uses of their position and privileges.
William and Kate met first responders who came to aid the victims of the attack. King Charles also held a private meeting with survivors and their families.
Obviously, a prison sentence cannot restore any life or childhood. But it could stop an extremely dangerous man from doing the same to someone else.