A neighbour of the Southport killer claims his ricin hoarde poisoned her cat – and the police lied to her about the deadly discovery.
Caroline McDonald said CID officers called at her home to say her cat, Jo-Jo, had entered Axel Rudakubana's family home and back garden as they searched for the poison.
Within hours, her pet had suffered a seizure and died the next day after vets feared he had been poisoned.
Caroline emailed the police asking if any harmful substances had been found at the suspect's property, and the next day a police inspector called at her house stating nothing dangerous had been found.
Rudakubana, 18, was later charged with terror offences after an Al-Qaeda manual and ricin were found at his home in Banks.
Today he pleaded guilty to production of the deadly biological toxin on or before July 29, as well as possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism. He also admitted murder and attempted murder charges.
Speaking out, Caroline told MailOnline: ‘The police have lied to my face. I am livid.
‘They told me nothing harmful had been found at the house despite officers going in and out of the house wearing full hazmat suits.
‘I heard the officers saying, “only 50 minutes exposure at any one time”, and then when they came out of the house, they had to shower down.
‘They were all wearing full breathing apparatus.'
Caroline McDonald said CID officers called at her home to say her cat, Jo-Jo (pictured), had entered Axel Rudakubana's family home and back garden as they searched for the poison
Within hours, her pet had suffered a seizure and died the next day after vets feared he had been poisoned
Rudakubana, 18, was later charged with terror offences after an Al-Qaeda manual and ricin were found at his home in Banks – as well as the murder and attempted murder charges for the Southport knife attacks. He has pleaded guilty to all these charges
An officer knocked at Caroline's door with eight-year-old Jo-Jo on August 29 last year – the first day of searching for ricin.
Caroline said: ‘CID called to tell me my cat had got into the forensic tent (in the back garden) and possibly into the house. Officers were wearing full apparatus equipment, and my cat got in.
‘When my cat came back home, he was a little out of sorts. Then his breathing became shallow and later had a seizure. We rushed him to the vet because he was foaming at the mouth.
‘The vet said she suspected poisoning and there was nothing she could do other than put him to sleep.
‘I sent an email to the police on August 30, asking to know what they had found.
‘An inspector then came to my house and told me there was no toxic chemicals in that house, there was no poison and it was impossible that my cat could have been poisoned at that property.
‘Then a few weeks later, Chief Constable Chief Constable Serena Kennedy announced Axel had been charged with producing ricin.'
Caroline added: ‘The police knew that there were chemicals in that house but didn't inform the residents of the threat.
Pictured are Ms McDonald's before her pet, Jo-Jo died after it allegedly entered Axel Rudakubana's home where the deadly chemical ricin was found
‘When the police were washing everything down, all the water was running into my garden. The chances are my cat has eaten the grass that has contained ricin and that has killed him.
‘I no longer have the cat so I can't prove this but I am livid.
‘What I do know is my healthy cat had got into that house and 24 hours later he is dead.'
Rudakubana was due to stand trial at Liverpool Crown Court from today charged with 16 offences, including three counts of murder.
Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe , seven, died following the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at The Hart Space on a small business park in the seaside town shortly before midday on July 29, 2024.
The defendant – aged 17 at the time of the attack – admitted the girls' murders as well as the attempted murder of eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.
He also pleaded guilty to possession of a knife on the day of the attack, as well as the other terror offences.
Caroline has since demanded an explanation from the Independent Office of Police Complaints.
She said: ‘The police have hidden what they have found from us. I do not expect to be told everything but do expect not to be lied to.
‘If we had been warned about any potential health dangers, we would have taken precautions and kept the cats inside.
‘If we had been told of the threat, Jo-Jo would still be alive.'
Merseyside Police has been approached for comment.
