The recent sentencing of Axel Rudakubana underscores the urgent need for Olivia’s Law to ensure justice for victims and their families
Merseyside: It’s been a tough time for the region, dealing with so much heartbreak lately. As a reporter, you think you can handle it all, but when kids are involved, it hits differently.
This week, we had to face the awful news again. Axel Rudakubana was sentenced to at least 52 years for the tragic murders of three little girls at a Taylor Swift dance party in Southport last year.
The mood in our newsroom was heavy. It reminded us of the time we covered the case of Thomas Cashman, who was sentenced for the brutal murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Dovecot.
Both cases are heartbreaking, especially since both killers were too cowardly to face the families of their victims during sentencing. Cashman didn’t even stand to hear his sentence or listen to Olivia’s family speak about their pain.
Cheryl, Olivia’s mom, has been a beacon of strength, pushing for a law in Olivia’s name. Just recently, she met with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to discuss Olivia’s Law, and he promised to make changes as soon as possible.
Sadly, just days later, we saw another example of why this law is so needed. Rudakubana, who pleaded guilty to the Southport murders and attempted murders, didn’t even let the families hear the full impact of his actions. He kept interrupting, claiming he felt sick, and eventually had to be taken out of the courtroom.
One family member called him a coward, and honestly, it was a fitting description. Their dignity stood in stark contrast to his behavior.
If Olivia’s Law had been in place, the court might have been able to take further action against Rudakubana for his disruptive behavior. It wouldn’t have changed what happened, but it could have offered some sense of justice for those little girls and their families.