London, Thanasis Gavos

He avoided admitting his guilt for the murder of three little girls in Southport, NW England last summer the 18-year-old accused Axel Rudakubana.

The attacker appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday video link from Belmars prisons where he is being held, but declined to answer questions about his name and whether he is pleading innocent or guilty.

Therefore, the judge requested that a plea of ​​not guilty be entered on behalf of the accused.

The murderous attack with a kitchen knife on July 29 against little girls and their dance teacher had shocked British society.

It was the reason for the multi-day incidents in many areas of the country, mainly by far-right elements who spread the word that the perpetrator was an immigrant.

Cardiff-born Rudacubana killed six-year-old Bibi King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancomb and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, injured eight more girls, their teacher Leanne Lucas and John Hayes who rushed to disarm him.

He was later charged separately under counter-terrorism legislation with manufacturing the toxic substance ricin and possessing an al-Qaeda handbook.

His trial will begin on January 20 and is expected to last four weeks.