Axel Rudakubana's attempt to 'avoid consequence' with 'softer option' slammed as Southport killer moved to psychiatric hospital

Axel Rudakubana is attempting to "manipulate" the authorities and get a "softer option" by being transferred to a psychiatric hospital, David Shipley has suggested.

Speaking to GB News, the crime journalist criticised the move by the Southport killer, recalling evidence that he has been "manipulative since his adolescence".

The lawyer representing the families of the Southport victims have accused the killer of trying to "manipulate the system" after he was transferred from Belmarsh Prison in South London to Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital.

Chris Walker, of Bond Turner, who is representing the three bereaved Southport families, said in a statement: "The three families we represent have been made aware of this development in the last 48 hours.

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"It is safe to say that whilst this news would devastate them at any time, the fact that this has occurred as we approach the second anniversary in our view is another move by AR who would appear to be attempting, once again, to manipulate the system.

"We have been given the barest of details and whilst we are supporting the families through this we are urgently seeking a meeting with the appropriate authorities to understand the situation before commenting further."

Discussing the case on GB News, Mr Shipley admitted he is "not surprised" that Rudakubana appears to be "manipulating the system".

He recalled: "We know Rudakubana through his whole adolescence was a very manipulative boy and young man who would consistently find ways to avoid facing consequences.

"There was a time when the police came round to his house and said they might be having to arrest him for his plot to go and murder a schoolmate, and he talked his way out of that and wasn't arrested.

"So I'm not surprised that he might be trying to get what he thinks is a softer option at our expense."

Asked by host Charlie Peters if he believes Rudakubana has orchestrated the move "because he knows how generous the system is", Mr Shipley was quick to agree.

He responded: "I'm sure he is. We know that these differences in treatment exist in NHS mental health policy documents, there are demands to reduce the number of black men being sectioned.

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"So there's these biases against putting very dangerous psychotic men, especially if they're from ethnic minorities in insecure environments, and that's exactly what happened with Nottingham."

Mr Shipley argued that the system should "not be jailing or hospitalising" such dangerous criminals like Rudakubana.

He told GB News: "I think in reality, we shouldn't be jailing or putting in hospital men like this, someone like Rudakubana, whose guilt is absolutely beyond question, whose crime was appallingly sadistic. The things he did were absolutely disgusting.

"He took the lives of three young, defenceless girls who he specifically targeted. The only, I think, rational, reasonable response for a society is simply to lawfully hang men like that. There's no possible chance of him ever being rehabilitated, so what are we doing here?"

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "The families of those murdered and injured in Southport will be in this country’s heart forever and our thoughts remain with them.

"Any decision to transfer an offender is made following an independent, clinical assessment, under the Mental Health Act.

"Following rigorous security checks, the offender has been transferred to a high-security psychiatric unit, where he will remain until assessed fit to return to prison.

"Officials have approved this transfer, on behalf of ministers. This transfer does not change his sentence, which remains at 52 years, and of which he will serve every single day."

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