A coroner has opened inquests into the deaths of three girls who were killed in the Southport stabbing.
Senior coroner Julie Goulding paid tribute to the “three children (who) were full of life and energy and will be missed beyond description” at the brief hearing at Bootle Town Hall on Wednesday.
Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were pronounced dead shortly after the knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class attended by 26 children on July 29.
Alice Dasilva Aguiar, aged nine, died in hospital the following day from her injuries.
Cardiff-born Axel Rudakubana, now 18, has been charged with the murders.
Opening the inquest into Elsie’s death, coroner James Martindale told the hearing: “On Monday, July 29, shortly before 10am, a group of 26 children, including Elsie, attended a dance and yoga studio at Northwood Business Park, 32-34 Hart Street, Southport, for an organised dance party.
“At some point between 11:40 and 11:50 a.m., a man, who has now been identified as Axel Rudakubana, arrived at the scene and reportedly began attacking those present.
“Three children died tragically and others, children and adults, were injured, some in critical condition.
“Axel Rudakubana was arrested at the scene and has now been charged with Elsie’s murder.”
Adjourning the inquests to allow the criminal proceedings to take place, the coroner said: “It is impossible to adequately articulate the devastating and lasting effects that the truly tragic events of Monday 29 July 2024 have had and will continue to have on the parents, families and friends of Elsie, Bebe and Alice, who cruelly lost their young lives in such horrific circumstances.
“The three children were full of life and energy and will be missed beyond any description that my woefully inadequate words can attempt to describe.
“I therefore offer my deepest condolences to the parents, family and friends of Elsie, Bebe and Alice, and my sincere sympathies to all my staff here at the coroner’s court.”
Rudakubana, 18, of Banks, Lancashire, will go on trial next year after being charged with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a sharp article in a public place.
Five other children and two adults were seriously injured in the attack.
On Tuesday, Merseyside Police said one child remained in hospital and all other patients had been discharged.
Around 400 people were arrested in riots that spread across the country following the incident.
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