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Taylor Swift fans — little girls — lost their lives in a fatal stabbing.
Now, their killer has received his sentence.
2024 was a huge year for Taylor. She set music records, concluded her historic world tour, and royals considered themselves lucky to hang out with her.
But there were painful moments that came with high visibility. A group of children were victims of a horrific and violent attack. Now, their attacker will be behind bars for a long, long time.
Last summer, three young Taylor Swift fans lost their lives in a horrific crime
When Axel Rudakubana was 17 years old, UK authorities arrested him on charges of murder. A particularly heinous murder.
An initially unidentified knife-wielding attacker had entered a Taylor Swift-centered dance and yoga class in Southport, England. This was in July of 2024. Taylor was not actually affiliated with the dance class.
The assailant used the knife to kill three young children: Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Da Silva Aguiar, 9. The attack injured multiple others.
“The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I’m just completely in shock,” Taylor Swift wrote on her Instagram Story last summer.
“The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders,” she continued at the time.
Taylor then concluded: “These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
What sentence did he received for the Taylor Swift dance class stabbing?
Judge Julian Goose described the now-18-year-old Axel Rudakubana as having wanted to “try and carry out mass murder of innocent, happy young girls.”
The UK courts were unable to impose a true life sentence. This is because Rudakubana, despite his conviction, was not yet 18 at the time of the crime.
However, the Associated Press reports that the judge imposed a 52-year sentence — minus the six months that he’s been in custody. In more than half a century, he could become eligible for parole.
Like Taylor, the British Royal family put out a statement.
“As parents, we cannot begin to imagine what the families, friends and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport today are going through,” William and Kate penned on social media. “We send our love, thoughts and prayers to all those involved in this horrid and heinous attack.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales added at the time: “Thank you also to the emergency responders who, despite being met with the most horrific scenes, demonstrated compassion and professionalism when your community needed you most.”
Everyone feels for the survivors, for the victims’ families
Like acts of charity by Taylor Swift, the royal family also attempts to find a positive use for their position and privileges.
Wiliam and Kate visited first responders who came to the aid of the victims of the attack. King Charles also held a private audience with survivors and their families.
Obviously, a prison sentence cannot restore any lives or childhoods. But it can keep one very dangerous man from doing this to anyone else.
Taylor Swift Dance Class Killer Sentenced to 52 Years in Prison was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.