i'm sarah campbell in liverpool. the sentencing of the teenager who murdered three girls in southport last summer will be sentenced in the coming hours. axel rudakubana arrived here at liverpool crown court in the few hours. he's also admitted attempting to murder 8 other children and two adults. i'll bring you all the developments from here at the court. and i'm catherine byaruhanga in london. in other news... the met office has issued a red weather warning covering northern ireland and parts of scotland as storm eowyn approaches, warning of gusts of up to 100mph and a �*danger to life'.

president trump sends 1,500 troops to the us—mexico border, in a move — he says — to crack down on illegal immigration. and the wait is nearly over. we look at some of the frontrunners of this year's oscar nominations. you join me here at liverpool crown court and after a delayed start to sentencing hear of axel rudakubana, the teenager who pleaded guilty on monday to the murders of three young girls in southport last year is now under way, but there has been some dramatic scenes in court. let's go straight to our uk affairs correspondent. we are also able _ uk affairs correspondent. - are also able to watch on a video link as well. the

proceedings were delayed this morning because of the late arrival of axel rudakubana and there is some suggestion that he might have been medically treated this morning, but it eventually got under way at about quarter to 12. theyjust started opening the case and rather dramatically said that two of the girls who were killed had suffered particularly horrific injuries that are difficult to explain as anything other than sadistic in nature. she goes on to say there was no ideological basis for his attack when we started to hear noises from the back of the court. ifeel to hear noises from the back of the court. i feel ill! we shouted from the back of the court, and in was clear that axel rudakubana were starting to interrupt his sentencing

hearing with their families —— the families of the murdered children there in the court well. he said ifeel ill, i need a paramedic! and they explained that he had been suffering from chest pain and hadn't eaten for several days, really the hearing had barely got under way when the man who committed this horrendous atrocity and admitted all on monday, was already taking centre stage in disrupting the proceedings. centre stage in disrupting the proceedin95-_ centre stage in disrupting the proceedings. there was some suggestion — proceedings. there was some suggestion that _ proceedings. there was some suggestion that he _ proceedings. there was some suggestion that he was - proceedings. there was some suggestion that he was taken | proceedings. there was some l suggestion that he was taken to hospital yesterday. it suggestion that he was taken to hospital yesterday.— hospital yesterday. it looks like he was _ hospital yesterday. it looks like he was taken - hospital yesterday. it looks like he was taken to - hospital yesterday. it looks. like he was taken to hospital may be in the early hours of this morning. that is yet to be formally confirmed. but certainly according to his lawyer. he has been recorded feeling ill in the last few hours. he has not eaten for a few days. can you imagine what

it is like for the parents of the three girls sitting there, the three girls sitting there, the moment they are going to hearjustice, the sentence being passed on the man that have killed their daughter, it had barely got started and he was disrupting this at the dock. at sentencing hearings, the defendant doesn't normally speak at all. he was able to take over. as far as i can tell, the hearing is resuming again and we may be to get things back on track. but not much sign that axel rudakubana thinks this is a day of remorse. it mostly seems to be all about him and how he is feeling ill. all about him and how he is feeling ill-— feeling ill. daniel, we will look at the _ feeling ill. daniel, we will look at the background i feeling ill. daniel, we will look at the background to j feeling ill. daniel, we will- look at the background to this case, but stay with us if you well. we will keep latest developments from within the court complex. let's remind ourselves of the horrific events in southport injuly last year with my colleague.

six—year—old bebe king, elsie dot stancombe, who was seven and nine—year—old alice da silva aguiar, murdered in southport last summer in a tragedy that led to a wave of sympathy and sadness. southport is a small seaside town. everyone here has a connection to someone who was at a dance class at the beginning of the summer holidays. sarah was hoping her daughter would be there. it filled up very, very quickly as of course it would do, so niamh was down on the waiting list. but she wasn't there and i guess i will be forever grateful for that, but also absolutely devastated that there are young people who are not here. and thatjust does not seem fair. axel rudakubana was arrested with the weapon in his hand, but refused to admit he carried out the attack. but then, this monday, with the trial about to start, he told his lawyers he was changing his plea. as well as the murders, he admitted trying to kill eight other children and two adults.

possession of the knife, manufacturing the bio toxic agent ricin and downloading an al-qaeda training manual, which is terror offence. it is clear that this was a young man with the sickening and sustained interest in death and violence. he has shown no signs of remorse. whether rudakubana could have been stopped will be the focus of a public inquiry. nick garnett, bbc news. let's bring in once again our correspondent. he is here and reading comments on what is being said inside. the sentencing hearing we were talking about the disruption due to axel rudakubana saying he is unwell, but the opening prosecution statement if you like, the description of what happened is still going on. $5

happened is still going on. as we happened is still going on. is we heard, he interrupted, claimed that he was feeling ill, in interrupting wanted to be taken to hospital, police said that was not the case. he said that was not the case. he said he was feeling ill and being disruptive almost at the very beginning, but it is now back under way. just going back to what the prosecutor had been saying when she was interrupted. she said some of the injuries suffered by two of the injuries suffered by two of the girls killed could only be described as sadistic. she went on to say what axel rudakubana said that the police station after he was arrested and he said, it is a good thing those children are dead. i am so glad. so happy. again, having committed this horrendous atrocity a few minutes earlier, he doesn't seem to have shown any remorse for what he had done. the prosecution is now setting about the facts of what happened on the 29th ofjuly

and what had happened was leanne lucas, the dance teacher running the event had posted on instagram that there was going to be a taylor swift themed event, it would involve dancing, making friendship bracelets and had sold out in 11 days. it was due to start at ten o'clock in the morning of the 29th ofjuly. leanne lucas and herfriend had arrived the 29th ofjuly. leanne lucas and her friend had arrived to set things up at 9am. and at about the time the event was getting under way, all was well under way, axel rudakubana was seen to be leaving his house at ten past 11. and he was ordering a taxi, which was taking him to the space where the event was under way. there are pictures that had not been

shown to the court that were of the event the morning, showing the event the morning, showing the children enjoying the day, very happily showing their love fur taylor swift, who everyone remembers last summer when she was on tour, she was a huge part of many children because that lives last summer particularly and it was described as a very, very happy event. axel rudakubana then took a taxi from his home to the studios in southport, he lives in banks which is outside southport, he did naturally pay the taxi driver, just got out without paying and when asked by a garage driver to pay the fare, he said what are you going to do about it? and then heads towards a studio. leanne lucas, the teacher noticed him

through their window. she later told the police that she had noticed through the window a man with a hardy, but did not think anything of it. she had no idea of this man in a green hoodie wearing a surgical mask was about to do to the children in her care. was about to do to the children in her care-— in her care. this is what is bein: in her care. this is what is being read _ in her care. this is what is being read out _ in her care. this is what is being read out in - in her care. this is what is being read out in court - in her care. this is what is being read out in court at| in her care. this is what is i being read out in court at the moment. the details. we have to remember here that the families of those girls, those who were killed and injured, those who were not but who are mentally scarred forever, and they are just getting to the point now where that attack actually happened and the moment when he entered the room. yes. happened and the moment when he entered the room.— entered the room. yes. there are children _ entered the room. yes. there are children that _ entered the room. yes. there are children that are - entered the room. yes. there are children that are aged - are children that are aged between six and 13. at the event, it was a veryjoyous event. there is footage that shows axel rudakubana heading towards the building. within 30

seconds of him going into the building, people started hearing screams from inside. he had essentially walked into the room where the children were making theirfriendship making their friendship bracelets and started stabbing people as soon as he entered the room. these details are now being read out in front of the parents of the three girls who were killed, the eight girls who were very badly injured and of course, there are other girls who are not involved in the court case, who were present and witnessed all of this on that morning of the 29th ofjuly. this on that morning of the 29th ofjuly-— this on that morning of the 29th of july. 29th ofjuly. and we should remember. _ 29th ofjuly. and we should remember, this _ 29th ofjuly. and we should remember, this is - 29th ofjuly. and we should remember, this is the - 29th ofjuly. and we should remember, this is the first | remember, this is the first time that they will have been in a room with the teenager who changed all of their lives forever because as we know, this trial was due to get under way this week, this was supposed to be the end of the

first week of the trial, but he unexpectedly pled guilty on monday. the families were not there, it was not expected to be a significant day. that caused a lot of upset. but today, they are in the same room and to see and hear his reaction, which is difficult as it might be really important to them. , ., , , ., , them. obviously, the families of peeple _ them. obviously, the families of peeple who _ them. obviously, the families of people who have _ them. obviously, the families of people who have been - them. obviously, the families l of people who have been killed or whose lives have been changed forever by events like this are very essential to the process. it's really important that those bits that they want to witness of the process, they should be therefore. i was there when axel rudakubana first appeared in court back in august and obviously, it was impossible for the families to be here then. it was far too recent events. they didn't see him when he first appeared in court and was charge. there have been a number of administrative hearings since then, but i think some of them

were steeling themselves for the trial that was supposed to open on tuesday. they were ready to witness that process, but because he pled guilty before the trial started, none of the families, so they completely missed that. so it is axel rudakubana running event, just like you try to disturb events this morning by saying he was feeling ill. but now they are there and he is present in the dock. and they are witnessing the evidence, as it is being read out and they are hearing how the dance teacher who was working with leanne lucas that they manage to get one of the little girls into the toilet. they shouted there, she told the little girl to keep quiet. they were eventually found by police, safe. but of course, the other girls were just there, subject

to this extreme violence. daniel, we arejust to this extreme violence. daniel, we are just hearing that he has been taken out of the dark and to a side room. more from you in a moment. we will keep you across the event here at crown court. you are watching bbc news. as we were just saying there, it appears from our reporters inside court that the perpetrator axel rudaku ba na that the perpetrator axel rudakubana has been taken out, this after he was complaining of feeling ill and very pasir firstly complaining and that must be incredibly difficult for the families, for the sentencing, there is no interruption from that point and it does rather point to his lack of remorse and concern for the families.— the families. yes, families treat sentencing _ the families. yes, families treat sentencing hearingsl the families. yes, families. treat sentencing hearings in different ways. some families

stare at the defendants. they want to see the defendant experiencing the full force of the law. 0therfamilies experiencing the full force of the law. other families choose to completely ignore the person being sentenced. they watch the judge. they watch the lawyers. theyjust judge. they watch the lawyers. they just choose judge. they watch the lawyers. theyjust choose not to think about that person, and just to hearjustice being done. it was impossible for them to make that choice today. he was shouting so loudly, we could see on the video link from court that they were having to look at him. their attention had to be drawn to him. those who might not have wanted to have to think about him today, that was not possible. it will have really added, i think, to a really difficult day. this is almost impossible frankly for parents to bear, this kind of event. indeed. daniel, we will keep across —

event. indeed. daniel, we will keep across what _ event. indeed. daniel, we will keep across what is _ event. indeed. daniel, we will| keep across what is happening from court. as we were saying there, the defendant had been taken out of the dock and is in a side room, so he is watching or able to watch proceedings as they carry on. this to remind you, we are live here from liverpool crown court with the sentencing of axel rudakubana who has pled guilty to the mergers of three girls in the knife attack in southport last year. this is the sentencing. we are hearing from prosecutors outlining the events of that day, july 29, 202a. just give you an idea of the sentence he is facing and the considerations that the justice think about as he conscious conclusion as to how long the sentence should be, i spoke earlier to our legal scholar. he was advised by mr

justice that a life sentence equivalent was inevitable, and today thejudge's primary sentencing reference will be the sentencing act 2020, scheduled 21. we know that the defendant was nine days short of his 18th birthday when he committed these offences. so the sentence he will receive for these murders is referred to somewhat euphemistically as "detention during his majesty's pleasure." the judge today will have discretion when setting the minimum term. so that's the length of time the offender must spend in prison before he is first considered for release by the parole board. the sentencing act 2020 tells judges how to set the minimum term that an offender must serve before release. and we know then, that in a case involving two or more murders by an offender aged 18, the starting point is 30 years.

if that offender was aged 17, as rudakubana was at the time of the offence, the starting point is reduced to 27 years. now, that sentence is likely to be increased by thejudge to take into account various aggravating factors. for example, a significant degree of planning and premeditation, and the fact that rudakubana's victims were children and therefore especially vulnerable. and the sentencing judge will also take into account the number of attempted murders rudakubana has admitted to. now, the fact that an offender suffered from any form of mental disorder or mental disability can be a mitigating factor at sentencing. but defence lawyers confirmed on monday that they would not be submitting a psychiatric report on their defendant's behalf, as would happen before a defendant was sent to a secure hospital.

however, there is considerable material about the defendant's mental health that is likely to be submitted before the court. we also know that any previous incidents may be relevant, and it's worth noting, finally, the effect and law of that very late guilty plea. typically, offenders will be entitled to a reduction of some kind on their sentence when they enter a guilty plea. but we know then in law that the maximum reduction for a guilty plea entered at the start of a murder trial is 1/20. for example, two years off a minimum term of a0 years, it would be unwise of me to predict precisely how the judge will proceed today. but that's an outline. yes. sorry to interrupt you. i just wanted to ask

how much will things like the fact that the cps, the crown prosecution service, said on monday that he had shown no remorse. is that the kind of aspect that the judge will take into account? it is possible. so typically if a defendant shows remorse, they might be entitled to — or that would be treated as a mitigating factor. in other words, it might reduce the sentence. but the fact that we know that so far has shown no remorse whatsoever, it is unlikely to feature in this particular sentencing calculation. that was doctor gabrielle watson he was taking us through the sentencing that axel rudakubana could potentially rudaku ba na could potentially face. rudakubana could potentially face. that sentencing hearing is continuing inside liverpool crown court behind me. the prosecuting counseljust going through at the moment the details of what happened on the

29th ofjuly, where we know that three girls, three young girls were murdered, and another ten people were attempted murder, he pleaded guilty to their attempted murder. there are distressing details, cctv of events is about to be shown and mindful of how distressing those details are, thejudge has of how distressing those details are, the judge has said that if people want to leave before that cctv is shown, they can do so. it was a horrific incident. the prime minister described it as a senseless and barbaric attack lastjuly. it hit the small community of southport incredibly hard. the community has tried to pull together in the months since, that one can only imagine how difficult that has been. earlier i spoke to a counsellor there, someone who was born and brought up in southport. i

asked him how community was coping in the aftermath of the attack. many, many visual displays of sort of solidarity and looking after each other. from the outpouring of flowers and teddies at the scene and in the town centre, through tojust people seeming to check in on each other and look after each other throughout the sort of initial attacks and what came afterwards. yeah. you mentioned what happened afterwards. i mean, it seems like such a long time ago now, doesn't it? but the day after the killings themselves, as the community was trying to come to terms with what had happened. and then obviously the riots sparked, first of all, in southport when a mosque was attacked and then further around the country. i mean, how difficult was that for the community to cope with on top of the horrendous event which had already happened 7 yeah, i think no one would have expected something like that to happen in southport,

especially around that area. it's like i said earlier, it's where i grew up. it was a very quiet and peaceful place to grow up, with a strong sense of community. i am extremely proud of the reaction afterwards of southport, the people here — coming out to clear up after that damage was done. but i think, yeah, it was an unwanted distraction when people were grieving over the brutal loss of those three little girls. and sean, six months on, how are things in southport? i think there's still a sense of shell shock. there's still people who i think have a sense of anxiety around what happened, but the community has come together, like i said, and once again, i'm extremely proud to have been born and raised in southport and the way the community has reacted and looked after each other and everyone seems to be checking in on each other. and yeah, i'm very, very proud of the reaction of our community.

how possible is it to move on, if you like, from today? how important is the sentencing? does that help to draw a line for the community and perhaps move forward? i'm not sure there's anything that can draw a line. again, especially for those directly impacted — the families. i think this is something that's always going to live with them especially, but the community as well. i don't think there's ever a way to truly draw lines under such absolutely horrific and barbaric attacks. i think though it's changed, i think people people have realised how important it is to to take care of each other. and that is something positive. i think we've spoken to lots of people in southport, and there does seem to be a real sense of community, which, after what's happened, is quite incredible and such

a credit to the town. yeah, i think community's everthing. we are nothing without community and the ability to look after each other and show empathy to each other. i think that that's the most important thing. the council has given us an idea of what the community has been going through in the last month, my colleague spent some time talking to people there about how they are trying to help each other cope with what happened. three young victims will never be forgotten here in southport. life is returning to normal for many in this small town, but for some, it is changed forever.

ah! all: ah! 0oh! all: ooh! people stopped doing things. i think that was what it was. you know, when do you start to laugh? | when do you start to smile? when you know what these families are and will- always be experiencing. and i think that's it, - it's a little bit of respect. this atrocity has hit us so hard. # broke my heart...# but it has— brought out the best in us. beyond today's sentencing, people know there will be a reckoning about where else the blame should lie. yeah, ijust feel that we cannot keep up with the internet.

i mean, i think it's desperately difficult for people in social services because they get the blame for it, but you cannot be everywhere. the owner of southport�*s pleasure land is desperate for normality. the impact on the town has been devastating. from within one hour of it happening, a lady came to the gate, her husband was a policeman, saying, "close the gate, close the gate." within one other hour, we had people cancelling. and that's the same for everything in the town. while norman wallace has huge sympathy for the victims, his business needs visitors to return. it's been called southport pleasure land since the 19205, but today he is rebranding. from this day, it is adventure coast. and the impetus for this has been these awful events? that has drawn a line in the sand. we have got to draw another line in the sand now and move forward. the media keep saying the bad word i won't say. southport is a great place. what's the word? stabbing. southport is a great place. we do need to let them...

we need to let them grieve and we need to move on as a town. many businesses, like graham's barber shop, were already struggling before the atrocity. you're just banging your head against the wall. and many like him have struggled more since. had a meeting how to get southport back on track after this. and all this. but never had any solutions whatsoever. we've got no money. you're not getting no help. get on with it yourself. there is very real anger here towards the killer but also authorities. had a policeman come in telling me they'd been to see this lad before. so it should have been dealt with. but because we've got the nonsense woke stuff what we've got now, they won't go near them.

not damaging stuff, but in principle, you say anything, you are far right or something, probably have me carted off, far right. i'm not. we are normal people. i work six days a week, but i don't earn a six day a week income, so what's that about? # every long lost dream...- , , ., town badly shaken. divisions do exist, but the desire for everyone here to heal is real. i see a lot of growth, personal and community growth. the only place i would want to move to is southport. you'll be in walking distance. and i've met such lovely... caroline the choir leader has taken the decision to leave her home of 25 years and move to southport. a town which she believes has shown real heart in terrible times. they are wonderful people. you cannot wait to move? i can't wait to move. jayne mccubbin, bbc news.

just a sense of the community of southport which has been so rocked by the events of last july and how they are trying to pull together and make as much sense as they can of what happened. just a reminder that you are watching bbc news. we live outside liverpool crown court where the sentencing hearing is under way of actual kanaya who killed three young girls —— axle radical banner. injuly of last years. he also played guilty to the attempted murder of ten other people... eight other young girls. i can tell you there has been a statement in the last few minutes released by number ten, asked about the sentencing, the prime minister's official spokesperson told reporters, the thoughts of the prime minister and the whole country will be with the families and everyone impacted by this

horrific tragedy today, as they