Killer’s family knew how dangerous son was but stayed silent – family of Elsie Dot Stancombepublished at 16:52 GMT
Breaking
We’ve just seen statements from the three bereaved families.
Jenni and David Stancombe, the parents of Elsie Dot Stancombe, say the following:
Reading [Rudakubana’s parents’] statements has only added to the unbearable pain that David and I already live with every single day.
We knew early on that their lack of parenting played a part in all of this, but these statements reveal a failure of parenting on a whole new level.
We believe they should be held to account for what they allowed to happen.
They knew how dangerous he was, yet they stayed silent. They didn’t report their concerns, they didn’t act, and in doing so, they failed not only as parents but as members of our society.
Their statements show no real remorse or acceptance of the devastation their son caused. Instead, they try to distance themselves from the truth and deflect from the reality they ignored.
They knew his behaviour was escalating. They saw the signs, the obsession, the growing desire to harm, especially in the months, weeks, and days before the attack. And still, they did nothing.
When he left their home that day, wearing the same clothes as the week before and carrying the weapon they knew he had, I believe they knew he was going to do something horrific. Yet they neither stopped him nor called the police.
His father, in particular, has downplayed his inaction and withheld the full truth of what he knew. I have no doubt his latest evidence is yet another attempt to protect himself and his family’s reputation rather than face what really happened.
Hearing them give evidence this week has been deeply distressing. As parents, they continue to deny, deflect, and protect themselves rather than face up to the truth.
They claim not to recall key conversations and continue to shift blame onto others, rather than accepting their son’s responsibility, or their own as parents.
His father admits things were out of control at home and that he was frightened of [Rudakubana], yet still believed no further action or referrals were needed.
I find it impossible to believe that either of them do not remember or recognise the seriousness of the events leading up to the horrors of 29 July 2024.
Their accounts are inconsistent, selective, and, in my view, untruthful. They continue to minimise and distort what went on in their home.
Their refusal to be honest, to truly face what they allowed meant chances to stop what happened were lost.
Even now, their lack of honesty and understanding shows how deeply they failed as parents and as members of our society.
David and I have always taught our girls right from wrong. That is our duty as parents but it’s also our duty as part of society. His parents failed in that most basic duty: to their son, to us, and to the community.
Their failure led to our daughter’s murder.
Now they are being protected, when in truth they should be held to account for their part in all this.
Parents should be culpable when they knowingly allow such evil to exist unchecked under their own roof, when they know what their child is capable of and choose to do nothing.
The values of our society depend on each of us taking responsibility. They chose not to, and because of that, we no longer have the chance to watch our kind, loving, beautiful little girl, who didn’t even know what bad was, grow up. Because of him, and because of them.
Image source, PA Media
