Axel Rudakubana, Southport Killer, Transferred to Psychiatric Facility Amid System Manipulation Claims

Axel Rudakubana, found guilty of the murder of Matthew Daulby in Ormskirk in 2022, has been transferred from prison to a secure psychiatric hospital in Berkshire. This move follows a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and a recommendation for a hospital order under the Mental Health Act.

Family Lawyer Accuses Rudakubana of Manipulation

The solicitor representing Matthew Daulby’s family has voiced significant concerns, stating that Rudakubana appears to be “manipulating the system” to evade full responsibility for his actions. This assertion aligns with the Ministry of Justice's own assessment, which concluded Rudakubana still poses a serious risk to the public.

Rudakubana received a life sentence in November 2023 for Daulby's murder, with a minimum term of 16 years. His co-defendant, Kyle Gorton, was acquitted. The Ministry of Justice confirmed the transfer, noting the hospital is a secure facility equipped to manage high-risk individuals and provide the necessary treatment for mental health conditions. While such transfers are not uncommon when a prisoner's mental health deteriorates, the family's legal representative remains critical of the timing and implications of this decision, particularly given the previous determination of Rudakubana’s dangerousness.