Lee Rigby murder ‘cowardly and callous’, jury told

The two men accused of murdering Fusilier Lee Rigby have gone on trial. Picture: PA

Video footage of the Fusilier being mown down and two men dragging his body into the middle of the road was shown to jurors at the Old Bailey.

It is claimed that Michael Adebolajo, 28, tried to decapitate him, while Michael Adebowale, 22, stabbed him. One eyewitness described their actions as being “like a butcher attacking a joint of meat”.

Fusilier Rigby’s widow, Rebecca, left the courtroom in tears before CCTV clips were played showing her late husband being knocked down.

There were gasps in the oak-panelled Court Two as the footage was shown, prompting more of the soldier’s relatives to leave.

Prosecutors claim that Adebolajo and Adebowale wanted members of the public to see what they had done.

Richard Whittam QC told the court: “They wanted members of the public to see the consequence of what can only be described as their barbarous acts.

“They had committed, you may think, a cowardly and callous murder by deliberately attacking an unarmed man in plain clothes from behind, using a vehicle as a weapon, and then they murdered him and mutilated his body with that meat cleaver and knives.”

The first piece of footage showed a Vauxhall Tigra, which prosecutors claim was being driven by Adebolajo, swerve across Artillery Place in Woolwich, south-east London, and mow down the fusilier on 22 May this year. Other footage showed the two men dragging his body into the road.

The jury was told that the car was driven “straight at” Fusilier Rigby at a speed of 30-40mph, before the knife attack.

Eyewitness Amanda Bailey, who saw the events from inside her Peugeot 206, said one of the attackers looked as if “he didn’t care”. Mr Whittam told the jury:

“As she put it, ‘I was so shocked that all I could do was sit there and stare at what was happening. I couldn’t believe what was going on. He was determined and he wasn’t going to stop. He didn’t care’.”

The prosecutor told the jury that passers-by showed “bravery and decency” in the aftermath of the alleged attack.

He went on: “Such heinous behaviour is in distinct contrast to the bravery and decency shown by some of the members of the public present.

Despite the abhorrence of the scene, one woman went to the lifeless body of Lee Rigby and stroked him to provide some comfort and

humanity to what had unfolded. Others went to see if they could provide first aid.

“Another woman engaged Michael Adebolajo in conversation despite the fact that he was still holding the meat cleaver and his hands were covered in blood.”

The court heard that the two men were also armed with a gun, and have admitted possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Mr Whittam told the jury of eight women and four men that the firearm was part of the plan the pair had made, and was used partly to frighten off members of the public before the emergency services arrived.

As a police vehicle swung into Artillery Place, both men moved towards it, Mr Whittam said, and Adebolajo raised the meat cleaver above his head.

He and Adebowale were both shot by police and arrested, the court heard.

Mr Whittam told the court the defendants had been together for five hours before the alleged murder and added “it was clear” there had been an agreement to attack the police when they arrived.

The events took place within yards of Mulgrave Primary School, the court heard, to which children were returning from a visit to the library.

Members of the public turned them back to avoid the “awful” scene.

A number of women went to the scene to comfort the soldier, the jury heard, including Amanda Donnelly Martin, who was with her daughter.

The court heard that Adebolajo handed her a letter containing religious references.

It said “to fight Allah’s enemies is an obligation” and went on: “If you find yourself curious as to why carnage is reaching your own towns then know it’s simply retaliation for your oppression in our towns.”

The handwritten note continued: “Whereas the average Joe Bloggs working class man loses his sons when they’re killed by our brothers, when the heat of battle reaches your local street it’s unlikely that any of your so-called politicians will be at risk or caught in crossfire so I suggest you remove them.”

Jurors were also shown a video clip of Adebolajo speaking with blood on his hands, suggesting that the attack was “an eye for an eye”.

He said: “The only reason we’ve killed this man today is because Muslims are dying daily by British soldiers.

“This British soldier is one – he is an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”

But Mr Whittam told the jury: “There is no defence of moral justification for killing just as there is no defence of religious justification. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth suggests revenge or retaliation, and in the context of this case, murder.”

Mr Whittam told the court that Adebolajo made a number of comments after he was shot by police.

These included: “I am a Muslim extremist, this may be the only chance you meet one.”

He also wrongly claimed that Fusilier Rigby, who was wearing a Help for Heroes hooded top, was in military kit when he was attacked, the court heard.

Adebolajo said: “My intention was never to hurt civilians. There were women and children around.

“My intention was to hurt military only. He was in his kit, in his uniform, coming in and out of the barracks.”

Adebolajo and Adebowale deny murdering Fusilier Rigby, attempting to murder a police officer and conspiracy to murder a police officer.

The trial was adjourned until Monday.

‘Know that to fight Allah’s enemies is an obligation’

Witness Amanda Donnelly Martin was passed a handwritten note by one of the alleged killers of Fusilier Lee Rigby, the court heard.

Ms Donnelly Martin was at the soldier’s side, attempting to comfort him as he lay in the road when Michael Adebolajo is said to have handed her the note.

Read in full by prosecutor Richard Whittam QC to the court, the letter said: “To my beloved children, know that to fight Allah’s enemies is an obligation. The proofs of which are so numerous that but a handful of any of them cuts out the bewitching tongues of the Munafiqeen [hypocrites].

“Do not spend your days in endless dispute with the cowardly and foolish, if it means it will delay you meeting Allah’s enemies on the battlefield.

“Sometimes the cowardly and foolish could be those dearest to you so be prepared to turn away from them.

“When you set out on this path do not look left or right.

“Seek Shaheed Ala oh my sons, so that you might be raised together and if it is Allah’s decree that you’re not to be in the hearts of green birds then be ready for to enter the university of Joosuf Sijn [sic] be patient there and be firm there and Inshallah you will meet your lord with him pleased with you.

“Verily Allah is with those who are patient. If I live beyond this day and you find me talking other than this then know that perhaps Allah has left me to stray. If you find yourself curious as to why carnage is reaching your own towns then know it’s simply retaliation for your oppression in our towns.

“Many of your people are aristocrats that directly benefit from invasion of our lands without material loss.

“Whereas the average Joe Bloggs working class man loses his sons when they’re killed by our brothers, when the heat of battle reaches your local street it’s unlikely that any of your so-called politicians will be at risk or caught in crossfire so I suggest you remove them.

“Remove them and replace them with who will secure your safety by immediate withdrawal from the affairs of Muslims.

“Muslims will trade with you on fair terms but understand that the days of your international armed robbery is [sic] drawing to a close. To humble yourselves willingly is better for you. May Allah guide your nation to the truth.”