Southport killer's brother was afraid he would kill, hearing learns

The older brother of the perpetrator testified his mother and father "could not manage" of their child and he was concerned his younger sibling would kill a person of their family, a hearing has learned.

The attacker, aged 17 at the time, murdered three youngsters at a pop music-inspired dance workshop on 29 July 2024.

The official investigation, conducted at Liverpool Town Hall, heard the sibling the older brother informed a acquaintance there was a risk of his relative "committing an act potentially fatal."

The hearing was informed the brother told his contact over the digital service: "Confrontations are frightening because of the danger of loss of life."

Dion stated his sibling reminded him of the sociopathic murderer in the film No Country For Old Men.

Increasing Conflict

Proceedings learned he was identified with a health issue at the early teens which caused him needing mobility assistance and his family providing increased care.

When asked by the inquiry counsel, attorney, if that affected their bond he said: "Strain developed that came about."

He concurred his sibling seemed to dislike this shift.

He revealed to the investigation that after the household relocated from Cardiff to the seaside town his relative's behavior worsened and he would have "violent outbursts."

The inquiry learned Dion became "increasingly wary" of his sibling, who would strike him often.

He said: "I had to be cautious if I tried to communicate to him because each conflict could become an altercation."

'Genuine concerns'

He revealed his sibling became much more aggressive after he was expelled from his school in that region, in autumn 2019.

Dion left for university in 2022 and the two communicated rarely "as he was unaccustomed to having me around."

The inquiry was informed of a note the brother sent to a acquaintance on the platform in which he said his relative was angered by him speaking late at night because of the poor insulation in their home.

He further revealed to his friend there was a danger of "his committing an act that could kill."

He said: "Arguments are scary because of the danger of a fatality."

The counsel inquired: "You held real worries that your sibling would kill a member of your household?"

Dion responded: "In case matters intensified to that extent."

The counsel inquired how his parents responded to the relative's physical conduct.

"It was pointless to try and punish him," he said. "Also, there was a significant danger in doing so.

"We said there was a general risk to life in casual discussion, if you attempt to challenge him... it could provoke violence."

When the lawyer inquired if his mother and father had failed to manage of his brother, Dion acknowledged.

When asked about his brother being similar to a character from the film the Coen brothers film, Dion stated: "I've been told that character's supposed to be a sociopath and that's why I chose that description there."

The brother said the last interaction he had with his brother was in the 2023 summer.

He confirmed that their mother and father told the killer to take leave to him as he was leaving to see his friends and his relative hurled an object at him but the exit was secured before it struck.

The hearing ongoing.