Southport teachers pay tribute to Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar

Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar were each killed by sadistic teenage knifeman Axel Rudakubana astatine a Taylor Swift themed creation lawsuit successful July past year

Headteachers person paid tribute to the three small girls murdered successful Southport past summer.

Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar were killed by sadistic Axel Rudakubana astatine a Taylor Swift themed creation lawsuit successful July past year.

Rudakubana was jailed for beingness astatine Liverpool crown tribunal this week, with a minimum of 52 years, aft admitting his horrific crimes. He besides pleaded blameworthy to 10 attempted murders, 8 children and 2 adults. He was conscionable 17 erstwhile her committed the evil crimes.

Natasha Sandland, headteacher of Marshside Primary School, which six-year-old Bebe attended, said: “Bebe was an astonishing young woman afloat of giggles and love. She brightened up the darkest days with her beauteous toothless smile.

“We grieve her nonaccomplishment each azygous time and volition retrieve her with thing but blessed and amusive memories. We volition ne'er subordinate her nonaccomplishment with this unthinkable act.

“Our absorption volition stay supporting Bebe’s household and her friends, our unit and our assemblage who person been near numb by this tragic incident.

“We nonstop our emotion to each those who person been affected by what happened and we firmly reiterate the request to support and respect the privateness of each families progressive astatine this hard time.

“As a schoolhouse assemblage we proceed grieving unneurotic arsenic we basal with others successful Southport.”

In a tribute, Jennifer Sephton, headteacher of Farnborough Road Infant School which was attended by seven-year-old Elsie, said: “It was a existent privilege to person known Elsie and beryllium a portion of her Farnborough Road Infant School travel implicit the past 4 years.

“From her nursery days being carried connected dad’s shoulders into the playground, she was a miss with a super, beaming smile, idiosyncratic who loved life, schoolhouse and her friends.

“Elsie was specified a determined young woman who loved to please, she loved performing, singing, dancing and being connected the stage.

“Elsie was adored by her friends and known by everyone successful schoolhouse owed to the sparkle successful her eyes, her infectious energy, caring quality and charismatic personality. It's hard to enactment into words however astonishing Elsie was and the interaction she had connected those astir her.”

She said their thoughts were with each the families affected.

She added: “As a school, we volition proceed to enactment our children and families arsenic we effort to navigate these astir hard of times together.”

Nine-year-old Alice’s erstwhile headteacher has besides paid tribute to the 3 girls.

Jinnie Payne, headteacher astatine Churchtown Primary School, said: “In the look of unspeakable tragedy, our Southport assemblage has been tested successful ways we could ne'er person imagined.

“Today, we travel unneurotic to honour the lives of Alice, Bebe and Elsie – 3 cherished members of our assemblage whose airy volition everlastingly radiance successful our hearts. We besides clasp successful our thoughts each those physically and emotionally impacted by this heartbreaking tragedy.

“Alice, a beloved pupil of Churchtown Primary School, was joyousness embodied. Her creator flair and passionateness for creation brought happiness to everyone who knew her. Alice, Bebe and Elsie’s lack permission a void that cannot beryllium filled, but their representation volition stay a torch of light, love, and inspiration for america all.

“To each the victims and their families and friends, we widen our deepest sympathy and unwavering support. As a school, we are committed to wrapping our arms astir you and the full assemblage arsenic we locomotion this way of grief and betterment together.

“In this clip of pain, we find anticipation successful the unity of our community. The resilience, compassion, and spot we person witnessed punctual america that emotion ever prevails implicit hate. Let america proceed to thin connected 1 another, not conscionable to heal but to honour Alice, Bebe, and Elsie by gathering a aboriginal grounded successful kindness and understanding.

“This is not the extremity of their story. It is the opening of a shared committedness to a amended world, 1 wherever emotion binds us, anticipation drives us, and unity defines us.

“Our hearts are broken, but we’re uncovering spot successful healing together.”