Teenage killers like the Southport murderer cannot be locked up for life because it would breach their human rights, a Labour minister has warned.
Calls have been mounting for law changes to see murderers like Rudakubana, who was 17 when he carried out the crimes, die in jail.
He has been handed a 52-year sentence for the knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class which left three children dead.
Speaking to Breakfast, Defence Secretary John Healey said: “There are limits on international United Nations law that prevent us from having a court system that would impose unlimited sentences on under 18-year-olds.
“But in practice I can’t see this man ever coming out of prison, I don’t want to see this man ever coming out of prison.
“And the judge yesterday was also quite clear he does not expect him to come out of prison in the future.”
Defence Secretary John Healey (Image: BBC BREAKFAST)
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Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is among those who has backed changing the law so whole life orders covers child criminals in some cases.
She said: “Axel Rudakubana should never be released from prison.
“His age means he has not been given a whole-life sentence, despite the countless lives he destroyed on that dreadful day, and the legacy of mistrust he has sown across the country.
“There is a strong case here for amending the law to give clear judicial discretion to award whole life sentences to under 18s, which the will start to explore.”
Now 18, Rudakubana this week admitted the murders of of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, as well as the attempted murders of eight other children who cannot be named for legal reasons, class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.
He also pleaded guilty to having a knife, which he had bought on Amazon, on the date of the killings, production of the deadly poison ricin, and possessing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.
Because Rudakubana carried out the crimes just nine days short of his 18th birthday, it means by law he cannot be sentenced to a whole life order which means he would never be released from jail. This tariff can only be imposed on criminals aged 21 or over and is considered for those aged 18 to 20 in exceptional circumstances.
His punishment is the equivalent of a life sentence handed to an adult because of his murder conviction and severity of his crimes but some of the terminology used in court is different for child offenders.
Regardless of this, he will still have to serve the minimum term of his sentence and will be subject to a review by the Parole Board before he could ever be considered for release.
Taking into account the 175 days Rudakubana has already served on remand, the court heard this meant he will be required to serve 51 years and 190 days before this can happen.