Sky News presenter breaks down for second time over heartwrenching Southport victim statements

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana is set to find out the number of years he will spend behind bars for murdering three girls at a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport

A Sky News presenter has broken down in tears for the second time after being left unable to speak while reporting on the Axel Rudakubana sentencing.

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana is set to find out the number of years he will spend behind bars for murdering three girls at a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport. After he entered the dock at Liverpool Crown Court prosecutors said the injuries suffered by his victims were “difficult to explain as anything other than sadistic in nature”.

Earlier today, presenter Sarah-Jane Mee broke down in tears as she reported on the upsetting details that witnesses found the attacker standing over the body of Bebe King “holding a kitchen knife”. “Ugh, just going take a breath after that,” Sarah-Jane could be heard saying. Sarah could be heard breathing deeply as silence fell over the life broadcast.

“Right, sorry, it’s just so distressing isn’t it?” Sarah added. “Look, we’re here for those girls and their families so try not to get upset because it is such an important day for them and this horror that came to their door.”

The Sky News presenter was visibly upset

She broke down for a second time while reporting further on the sentencing while stood outside Liverpool Crown Court today. Reading out one of many victim statements being read in court, the presenter choked up as she read out the statement, which said: “‘I have scars I know that will be with me forever, but I want to look forward.’

“‘When people in school asked me ‘do you wish you weren’t there that day?’ I said that in some ways, I wish I wasn’t. But also, if I wasn’t there, someone….'”. The presenter was then unable to finish her report as she broke down in tears again.

Viewers at home rushed to social media to comment on it, with one user saying: “So awful to hear @SkyNews presenter @skysarahjane break down.. Understandable, it’s horrific…. .” Another said: “I think the Sky news presenter has just broken down. The horrors being described is unreal.” One user posted: “Sky News presenter in tears. Horrendous stuff to hear.”

She broke down twice on air ( 
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Images and documents found in his home “demonstrated he had a longstanding obsession with violence, killing and genocide,” the prosecutor added. “His only purpose was to kill and he targeted the youngest and most vulnerable in our society.”

As an 18-year-old, Rudakubana pleaded guilty to all 16 offences he faced on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday. Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, died following the attack in The Hart Space on a small business park in the seaside town on July 29.

The defendant admitted their murders as well as the attempted murders of eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as well as class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.

Rudakubana interrupted the hearing on Thursday to yell out “I feel ill!” He was heard shouting “I’m not fine, I feel ill” in the dock. He added: “I need to speak to a paramedic because I feel ill. They’re not giving me any support. I feel ill.” Liverpool Crown Court also heard Rudakubana said: “I’m glad they’re dead” as he was held in a custody suite after killing three girls in a knife attack at a Southport dance class.