Luton Borough Council

19/03/2025 - Statement in response to today's sentencing hearing at Luton Crown Court from Leader of Luton Council, Cllr Hazel Simmons

Statement in response to today's sentencing hearing at Luton Crown Court from Leader of Luton Council, Cllr Hazel Simmons:

"First and foremost I want us all to remember and honour the three victims of this heartbreaking tragedy: Juliana Falcon, Kyle Prosper, and Giselle Prosper.

Their lives, full of promise and love, were taken far too soon. Let us always say their names, cherishing their memories and the impact they had on those around them, and let us take a moment to consider how short their lives were cut, how much potential each one of them had, and it saddens me deeply that the world never got to see their growth, their dreams, and their impact.

The details revealed in sentencing over the last two days have been deeply distressing, shocking, and painful—firstly for those who knew and loved this family. Our hearts go out to each and every one of them as they still try to process this unimaginable loss. We are setting up wellbeing and emotional support services in the community for anyone who needs it at this time. We stand with you all in this incredibly devastating and unfair loss of life.

But the distress is wider than those who knew the family. Our entire school community, including students, staff, and their families are in shock. Anyone with school aged children will be struggling with what has been revealed in court. Our hearts are with all of them too.

We are grateful to Bedfordshire Police for their swift action in apprehending the suspect, preventing further devastation, and ensuring the safety of others. Their dedication to protecting our community in its most vulnerable moments has not gone unnoticed.

During this difficult time, we are providing support to St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, ensuring that counselling and resources are available for any pupil, family member, or staff member who needs them. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the Headteacher, the entire staff, and the students of St Joseph’s for their grace, strength, and resilience in the face of such a tragedy.

Though the details of this case are deeply troubling, it is important to remember that no harm was inflicted upon the school. He failed!

But we know people will have questions about school safety so I want to reassure everyone that we remain committed to the highest standards of safety and security in all Luton schools. Ongoing reviews of security measures, lockdown procedures, and site safety will continue to be a priority, with additional support available to any school that seeks it.

We are aware that this incident could have happened anywhere in the country, and hope that it serves as a catalyst for a national conversation around school security, access to firearms and internet site regulation. We are certainly keen to work actively on this and will champion for better safety measures in our schools.

Lastly, I want to recognise the incredible strength and unity of Luton’s communities. In the darkest of times, we find light in the way we come together, support one another, and extend kindness in ways both big and small. Let us hold on to that spirit of generosity and compassion in the days ahead, as we mourn, heal, and honour the memories of Juliana, Kyle, and Giselle.

They will never be forgotten.”

Click here to read more about the statement from Cllr Hazel Simmons about the sentence hearing.