A psychiatrist has accused the parents of Axel Rudakubana, known as the Southport monster, of providing misleading information about his violent history when seeking mental health services for him. Dr. Anthony Molyneux revealed in a public inquiry that despite knowing about Rudakubana bringing a knife to school, he was unaware of his previous violent acts detailed in his medical records. This lack of crucial information led Dr. Molyneux to believe that Rudakubana posed minimal risk to others, resulting in his discharge just a week before he carried out a deadly knife attack on a group of young girls during a dance class.
Dr. Molyneux, who treated Rudakubana at Alder Hey Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) from July 2022, stated that the teenager’s parents, Alphonse Rudakubana and Laetitia Muzayire, had meticulously manipulated the information provided to healthcare professionals, creating a false perception of their son’s situation.
During the inquiry, Dr. Molyneux acknowledged his lack of knowledge regarding Rudakubana’s research on past terror incidents, his violent tendencies, and his previous assault on a schoolmate. He also noted Rudakubana’s behavior during appointments, describing him as an unremarkable and withdrawn teenager who had a list of preferred medications.
Despite believing that Rudakubana posed minimal risk to others and ultimately assessing him as having no risk just before his fatal attack that claimed three lives, Dr. Molyneux admitted that Rudakubana was prescribed antidepressants that he did not consistently take. He also acknowledged the standard procedure for reviewing patient records at each appointment, although he claimed it was impractical to thoroughly review Rudakubana’s extensive medical history.
The psychiatrist defended his organization’s efforts in treating and supporting Rudakubana, emphasizing that they had acted in good faith. However, he highlighted systemic flaws within mental health services that could only be rectified through a unified approach.
Rudakubana, now 19 years old, is currently serving a 52-year sentence for the murders of three young girls and the attempted murder of ten others. The inquiry at Liverpool Town Hall is ongoing, with mental health professionals continuing to provide evidence.