Southport attack: CPS authorises murder charges
Sarah Hammond, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said:
“The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Merseyside Police to charge a 17-year-old male, of Banks, Lancashire, with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder following the tragic incident that took place in Southport this week.
“He will appear at Liverpool City Magistrates’ Court on Thursday August 1, 2024.
“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.
“Our thoughts remain with the families of all of those affected by these harrowing events.”
Notes to editors
- The 17-year-old has been charged with the murders of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, and the attempted murder of ten others. He has also been charged with possession of a bladed article.
- He cannot be named at this stage because of his age.
- The function of the CPS is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for a criminal court to consider.