#72 Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Dasilva Aguiar

Bebe King. Elsie Dot Stancombe. Alice Dasilva Aguiar. Somehow, the names of these three children, murdered by Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 17, have become either lost in the discussion around what is going on in our society, or appropriated by a group of thugs to justify unbridled violence. I don’t know much about anything but I do know this: when children are killing children there is something deeply wrong in our world.

---

You’ll be able to read this article in full if you’re a paid subscriber. If not, then you’ll hit a paywall eventually meaning you won’t be able to read anymore. I know, I know…it’s annoying but there is a lot more free content across all my social media platforms than there is hidden behind a paywall here. If you can spare £4.99 to support my writing then hit the button below, but if not, that’s ok too. I’m just delighted that you’re still turning up here.

---

The world is a very uncomfortable place to live in right now, isn’t it? I’m constantly torn between wanting to keep myself educated and aware of what’s going on, but I also wanting to bury my head in my privilege and ignore the horrors that we all see on the news and splashed across social media. The stabbing of three young girls is something, you would think, no one can ignore and yet in all the coverage and consequences surrounding this horrific act, people seem to have done just that.

Bebe King was the youngest of the victims. Just six years old, she was due to celebrate her aunt’s wedding the following day. Her grandfather was a musician, she loved music and theatre and attended Marshside Primary School.

Elsie Dot Standcombe was just seven years old. She attended Farnborough Road Infant School. She was learning how to sew and was excited about making her own top to wear. Her great-aunt was teaching her. Her parents are Jennifer and David and she has a sister, Rosie.

Alice Dasilva Aguiar was nine years old. She had moved from Madeira and loved dancing, especially ballet. At a special service, her parents Sérgio and Alexandra attended clutching her ballet shoes. After the service, everyone gathered outside the church to sing You Are My Sunshine. She attended Churchtown Primary School and was going to turn 10 in October.

We must never forget their names.

And then there is Axel Muganwa Rudakubana who, at 17, is also a child.