Southport stabbing suspect Axel Rodacobana, 18, has denied killing three teenage girls – Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguirre and Baby King – in the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
Mr Rodakobana appeared at Liverpool Crown Court via a video link but refused to speak when asked to confirm his name and enter his pleas, so judge Mr Justice Goes sided with him. Entered them from
Similarly, Mr Rudakubana also pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of 10 other people, including 8 children, on 29 July.
He was also charged with manufacturing biological toxin ricin and possession of terrorist material, but again pleaded not guilty and entered not guilty pleas.
The trial, originally scheduled for January 20, will go ahead and is expected to last four weeks, the judge said.
Mr. Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time of the attack, shook himself during the hearing, and at times sat with his head bowed.
Mr Justice Goose said Mr Rodacobana was “disgustingly silent” – the legal term for a defendant who deliberately refuses to speak.
The attacks Mr Rodakobana is accused of carrying out took place shortly before midday at Heartspace Studios in a small business park in the seaside town.
In total, he is charged with 16 offences.
In October, the indictment added charges related to the production of Recon and the alleged possession of al Qaeda training manuals.