Labour last night faced calls to take control of the UK’s justice system after international rules stopped the Southport killer from being locked up for the rest of his life.
Pressure mounted on the Government after No 10 refused to consider overwriting or ignoring a United Nations convention, which prevents anyone under the age of 18 from being handed a whole-life sentence.
Calls came from politicians, a former director of public prosecutions and Southport residents.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child tied the hands of Mr Justice Goose as he passed sentence on Axel Rudakubana this week, with the judge making clear that had the triple killer been an adult at the time of the killings, he would have made sure he was never released.
But as Rudakubana carried out his attack nine days short of his 18th birthday, he fell under the convention and was instead jailed for a minimum of 52 years.
That sentence, despite being the longest handed to someone of his age, is already under review after a complaint it was ‘unduly lenient’ and sparked a debate about whether judges should be constrained in such a way.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp urged Sir Keir Starmer to reconsider his stance on the issue, telling the Mail: ‘Looking at this appalling case, I believe the judge should have had the ability to impose a whole-life order if he wanted to.
‘The Government is wrong to dismiss – off-the-cuff – calls for changes to sentencing law, especially when requested by victims’ families. We owe it to the families to look at this.’
Labour last night faced calls to take control of the UK’s justice system after international rules stopped Southport killer Axel Rudakubana from being locked up for the rest of his life
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child tied the hands of Mr Justice Goose as he passed sentence on Axel Rudakubana this week, with the judge making clear that had the triple killer been an adult at the time of the killings, he would have made sure he was never released
Southport father-of-three Liam Rice, whose taxi-driver colleague unwittingly gave Rudakubana a lift to the dance class to carry out his massacre, said: ‘The law should be changed – he should remain in prison for life.
‘Considering what he’s done and the damage he’s caused to so many lives and families, I’d argue that life in prison is even too good [for him].’
Echoing a call by party leader Kemi Badenoch, Tory justice spokesman Robert Jenrick said: ‘It’s right that the criminal law generally distinguishes between young people and adults.
‘But in exceptional cases, there is a strong case for giving judges the discretion to act.
‘Labour’s claim that international law prevents a change is a distraction ploy that overlooks the UK’s dualist legal system.
‘Starmer’s predictable attempts to gold-plate international law are no excuse for inaction.’
Former Tory minister Neil O’Brien said: ‘It’s pathetic and disrespectful that the Government won’t even look into this.’
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage added: ‘Once again we have foreign institutions dictating how we live.
‘This is unacceptable.’
A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘Whole-life orders are not something we’re looking at.’
He indicated controversial Attorney General Lord Hermer, who has pledged to make the UK a ‘leader in the field of international law’, was consulted on the issue.
Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to reconsider his stance on the issue
Today the Mail was told Rudakubana faces being moved around prisons for his own safety because he will have a bounty on his head. Pictured: The killer in a taxi before the stabbings
Lord (Ken) Macdonald, who led the Crown Prosecution Service before Sir Keir took up the post in 2008, told The Daily Telegraph: ‘In a case this ghastly, where the trigger age is so close, I think there will be some public disquiet.’
It came as the Mail was told Rudakubana faces being moved around prisons for his own safety because he will have a bounty on his head.
The killer will also likely be held in isolation, with his relocations meaning his 52-year term will cost taxpayers £2.7 million.
