horrendous individual that has murdered those little girls in southport. i bet there wasn't a dry eye in your house. he has been sentenced to life with a minimum of 52 years. does that sound like justice to you.7 there sound like justice to you? there is so much we need to unpick to this. is it time to force criminals into the dock in court? a reform uk mp has said it's court? a reform uk mp has said wsfime court? a reform uk mp has said it's time to have a debate about a return of the death penalty. do you agree with that? there's so much, ladies and gents, we need to get into. worry not. we'll have all the latest from the trial and lots of debates on the trial and lots of debates on the show tonight. keeping me company until 7:00 to do just thatis company until 7:00 to do just that is my panel. i've got the journalist charlie bentley,

actor who has spent a huge amount of time in depth on this case. and alongside her, i've got the political commentator jonathan lewis. but before we get stuck in, let's cross the line for your 6:00 news headlines. >> hello there. let's get you up to date with the latest news headlines. southport child killer axel rudakubana has been jailed for a minimum of 52 years, with the judge describing the murders of three young girls at a dance class last summer as ferocious and sadistic. a warning viewers may find some of the details distressing. new footage has been released of the moment rudakubana left a taxi without paying before launching his knife attack at a taylor swift themed dance class. the court heard harrowing details about how the attack unfolded and that many of the injuries were inflicted to the back of the victims, suggesting they were trying to escape. it also emerged rudakubana boasted of his attack shortly after being arrested in july last year,

telling police it was a good thing the children were dead. the 18 year old pleaded guilty to the murders of alice da silva aguiar , bebe king and elsie dot aguiar, bebe king and elsie dot stancombe and ten charges of attempted murder during sentencing earlier in the day. he was twice ordered out of the dock after shouting about feeling ill. during sentencing, mr justice goose said it had mrjustice goose said it had caused shock and revulsion to the whole nation and that rudakubana would have killed all 26 children if he'd been able. >> i'm now going to sentence axel rudakubana, having explained my reasons on counts 1 to 3 murder, i sentence him to custody for life with a minimum term which he must serve in custody of 52 years. >> well, thousands of schools across the country are expected to close tomorrow as storm ian heads towards the uk. that includes all schools in northern ireland and those in 16 councils in scotland, where all trains

have been suspended. red weather warnings are in place for winds of up to 100mph. drivers are being advised to stay off the roads as well as tornados could hit parts of the uk today ahead of the storm arriving. the met office has advised people to secure loose items outside their homes, as there could be a danger to life caused by flying debris. a police say a 53 year old man, wanted in connection with the death of a woman in plymouth may be armed and dangerous. they're looking for paul anthony butler after a woman in her 40s was attacked in the west hoe area of the city on wednesday night. she died in hospital in the early hours of thursday. detectives believe the two people were known to each other. a man has been arrested over the stabbing of five people near a supermarket in croydon in south london. the met police say the man, in his 30s, has been held on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon. five men, one in his 50s, two in their 30s and two in their 20s, were taken to hospital for stab wounds. their

condition are said to be not life threatening. the met police has been removed from special measures after more than two years of good progress, according to the watchdog. the force had been put into special measures following extensive criticism over the death of sarah everard four years ago. she was abducted and murdered by serving police officer wayne couzens. his majesty's inspectorate of constabulary and fire and rescue services said the met has made a number of improvements, including in how quickly calls are being answered. professional standards and in investigating missing children. the commissioner, sir mark rowley, says the whole force has worked to fix its broken foundations and the spanish language film. emilia perez leads the way at the oscars with 13 nominations, followed by wicked and the brutalists with ten apiece. a wicked's, ariana grande has been nominated for best supporting actress, with co—star cynthia erivo up for best actress. sir elton john has achieved his

fifth original song nomination after the release of his music documentary song never too late. fellow british stars felicity jones and ralph fiennes have also been nominated for awards. we'll have more on that as we go through the day. and those are the headlines more in about an hours the headlines more in about an hour's time. >> thank you very much for that. my >> thank you very much for that. my name is michelle dewberry and i'm with you until 7:00 here on dewbs& co. it's been a very, very tough day, i can tell you that. of course, the conversation about southport dominating our conversations and debates tonight, and rightly so , debates tonight, and rightly so, alongside me, my panel until 7:00, i've got the journalist charlie bentley, who has spent a very long time in the depths of this case, and alongside her i've got jonathan lewis, the political commentator. now, many of you will have been watching and listening the proceedings

ongoing today. it's been absolutely soul destroying. i've shed more than a few tears, and i'm sure anybody that has followed the coverage will also have done as well. i think we've got many questions as a result of all of this. today i want to hear from all of you on your thoughts. but before we do, there's a press conference taking place right now with the cps. >> in hart street, southport. firstly, i would like to take this moment to pay tribute to the victims and their families. in this harrowing case. they have shown tremendous dignity and composure in the face of unbelievable horror. many of the cases that we deal with have tragedy, difficulties and trauma, but this is one of the most harrowing that i, as the chief crown prosecutor for this area, have ever come across. on the 29th of july, 2024, axel rudakubana stabbed and killed

three young girls at a holiday dance class. he injured ten other people, eight of them also young children. elsie dot stancombe, bebe, king and alice da silva aguiar lost their lives on a day that should have been filled with happiness for them. when rudakubana entered the room, they were singing and making friendship bracelets. axel rudakubana is a murderer, an utter devastation followed as he acted out a meticulously planned rampage of murder and violence. his purpose was to kill, and he targeted the youngest, most vulnerable, no doubtin youngest, most vulnerable, no doubt in order to spread the greatest level of fear and outrage, which he did three days ago, he pleaded guilty to all 16 counts against him, meaning the families of the victims did not have to relive the events of that day in a trial. but he has

never expressed any remorse, only cowardice in his refusal to face the families whose lives he has changed forever. this has been an extremely difficult case for the crown prosecution service and police officers at merseyside police. they've had to work through chilling and disturbing footage and evidence, and i would like to thank them for their perseverance, compassion and determination to achieve justice for the victims and their families. this sentencing brings the case to an end, but the events of that day will leave a tragic legacy that will leave a tragic legacy that will unfortunately endure for many years. >> thank you sir. >> thank you sir. >> good evening. i am detective chief inspector jason pai, the chief inspectorjason pai, the senior investigating officer for this investigation. today, axel rudakubana has been sentenced for his cowardly and terrifying attack on the young girl's heart space on the 29th of july. although no outcome at court

today could possibly ease the pain and trauma for the victims and their families, i hope that knowing rudakubana will spend a considerable amount of time in prison will at least bring some comfort. comfort. his horrifying attack resulted in the deaths of bebe , el—sisi and alice, and the bebe, el—sisi and alice, and the thoughts of everyone at merseyside police remain with their families. merseyside police remain with theirfamilies. his merseyside police remain with their families. his shocking actions also resulted in serious injuries, both physical and psychological, to the other young girls and adults who will continue to be affected to this day. as the judge has said today, the harm of rudakubana