Southport attacker's sibling was afraid he would take lives, investigation hears
The brother of the Southport attacker said his family "could not manage" of their son and he worried his younger sibling would kill a member of their relatives, a official investigation has learned.
Axel Rudakubana, aged 17 at the time, murdered three kids at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July 2024.
The official investigation, held at Liverpool Town Hall, heard the family member he informed a acquaintance there was a possibility of his relative "doing something deadly."
The investigation was advised Dion messaged his friend over the Discord messaging app: "Arguments are scary because of the threat of a fatality."
He said his sibling resembled the violent character in the picture the Coen brothers film.
Rising Hostility
The hearing learned he was identified with a health issue at the age of 12 which caused him using a wheelchair and his parents offering greater support.
Questioned by the lawyer, counsel to the inquiry, if that affected their bond he stated: "Strain developed that came about."
He concurred his relative showed bitterness toward this shift.
He testified the inquiry that after the household relocated from their previous home to the seaside town his sibling's temperament deteriorated and he would have "aggressive episodes."
The inquiry learned he became "progressively concerned" of his brother, who would strike him often.
He said: "I had to be cautious if I did speak to him because any disagreement could escalate into an argument."
'Serious fears'
The brother testified his relative became much more aggressive after he was dismissed from his school in Formby, Merseyside, in that period.
He departed for higher education in that year and the two had diminishing contact "as he was unaccustomed to having me around."
The hearing was informed of a note the brother sent to a contact on Discord in which he stated his relative was annoyed by him speaking late at night because of the thin walls in their house.
He further revealed to his friend there was a possibility of "him taking action deadly."
He said: "The fights are scary because of the danger of a fatality."
The lawyer questioned: "You were genuinely concerned that your brother would murder a individual of your relatives?"
The brother replied: "If things escalated to that point."
Mr Boyle questioned how his mother and father responded to the attacker's violent behaviour.
"There was no point to seek to penalize him," he said. "Additionally, there was a heavy risk in doing so.
"We mentioned there was a widespread threat to life in casual discussion, if you seek to address him... it could provoke violence."
When the lawyer inquired if his parents had failed to manage of his relative, the brother concurred.
Questioned regarding his relative reminding him of a character from the film No Country for Old Men, Dion explained: "I heard that character's meant to be a psychopath and that's why I used the word there."
The brother testified the final contact he had with his relative was in the warmer months of that year.
He acknowledged that their mother and father asked the attacker to bid farewell to him as he was leaving to see his associates and his sibling threw a bottle at him but the entryway shut before it struck.
The inquiry continues.
