Military funeral planned for Woolwich victim

A PRIVATE military funeral for murdered soldier Lee Rigby is to be held in Manchester next Friday, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Drummer Lee Rigby, who was killed in Woolwich. Picture: PA

A guard of honour will keep a vigil over Drummer Rigby’s body the night before the private service at the parish church in Bury.

Bury has strong links with Drummer Rigby’s regiment, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, whose roots go back to the Bury-based Lancashire Fusiliers.

The funeral will be a private service, broadcast to outsiders via a PA system, an MoD spokesman said.

Drummer Rigby was killed as he returned to Woolwich barracks from the Tower of London on May 22.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, have been charged with his murder and are due to stand trial at the Old Bailey on November 18.

They will appear at the same court for a plea and case management hearing on September 27.