Southport attacker's brother feared he would commit murder, inquiry hears
The older brother of the perpetrator said his mother and father "lost control" of their son and he worried his family member would murder a individual of their family, a public inquiry has heard.
Axel Rudakubana, a teenager, murdered three children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop on July 29, 2024.
The Southport Inquiry, held at Liverpool Town Hall, was told the attacker's brother he warned a close contact there was a risk of his sibling "committing an act that could kill."
The hearing was told the brother told his contact over the digital service: "Confrontations are scary because of the risk of loss of life."
The sibling testified his brother resembled the psychopathic killer in the film the thriller.
Increasing Conflict
The hearing learned Dion was identified with a health issue at the age of 12 which resulted in him needing mobility assistance and his mother and father providing increased care.
In response to the lawyer, attorney, if that altered their dynamic he replied: "There was tension that came about."
He concurred his sibling showed bitterness toward this development.
He testified the inquiry that after the relatives moved from Cardiff to their new location his relative's behavior deteriorated and he would have "physical explosions."
Proceedings heard Dion became "progressively concerned" of his relative, who would physically assault him frequently.
He testified: "I was forced to be wary if I tried to communicate to him because any disagreement could escalate into an argument."
'Real worries'
He testified his relative became increasingly physical after he was removed from his school in that region, in that period.
The sibling left for university in 2022 and the siblings had diminishing contact "because he was not familiar with having me around."
The hearing was informed of a communication Dion sent to a acquaintance on the service in which he mentioned his brother was annoyed by him having conversations after dark because of the poor insulation in their home.
He further revealed to his associate there was a possibility of "his committing an act deadly."
He said: "Arguments are scary because of the threat of a fatality."
The lawyer asked: "You were genuinely concerned that your relative would fatally harm a individual of your relatives?"
Dion responded: "In case matters intensified to that level."
The counsel asked how his parents dealt with the perpetrator's aggression.
"It was pointless to attempt to discipline him," he testified. "Also, there was a heavy risk in proceeding that way.
"We said there was a general risk to well-being in general conversation, if you attempt to challenge him... it could provoke violence."
When Mr Boyle asked if his family had lost control of his relative, he agreed.
Inquired concerning his relative being similar to a character from the film the Coen brothers film, Dion explained: "It was said that persona's supposed to be a dangerous individual and that's why I employed that term there."
He testified the previous encounter he had with his sibling was in the summer of 2023.
He confirmed that their parents told the attacker to bid farewell to him as he was going to meet his friends and his brother tossed a container at him but the entryway shut before it made contact.
The hearing continues.