Lee Rigby Trial Gasps In Horror As CCTV Footage Played Of 'Callous Murder' With A Meat Clever

Lee Rigby Trial Gasps In Horror As CCTV Footage Played Of 'Callous Murder' With A Meat Clever
The Huffington Post UK | By Paul Vale
Posted: 29/11/2013 17:21 GMT | Updated: 29/11/2013 18:50 GMT

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/11/29/lee-rigby-trial-gasps-in-horror-cctv-footage_n_4360671.html?ref=topbar

The details of Lee Rigby's horrific murder have been described in court, with the jury hearing how the soldier was run over then attacked with a knife and a meat clever. Those in attendance at the Old Bailey on Friday witnessed a video showing the "cowardly and callous murder" of the fusilier being hit by a car before two men dragged his body into the middle of the road.

The victim's widow Rebecca left the court in some distress before CCTV footage was played. Those who remained to see the killing gasped in horror as the dreadful scene unfolded in Woolwich in May. The prosecution claims that Michael Adebolajo, 28, tried to decapitate the young soldier while Michael Adebowale, 22, stabbed him, the latter's act described by one witness as akin to "a butcher attacking a joint of meat".

Michael Adebolajo Told Police He Was A 'Muslim Extremist'
Accused Bought Knife Set And Sharpener From Argos
Speaking to the court, Richard Whittam QC for the prosecution said of the suspects: "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. 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". 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 members of the public 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. 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. They are both accused of attempting to murder a police officer, and conspiracy to murder a police officer on or before May 22.

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."

Accused: Michael Adebolajo (left) and Michael Adebowale (right) during their trial at the Old Bailey
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 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." 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. He 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."

The trial was adjourned until Monday.
Unquote.

Do you think it was just a coincidence that Lee was a Soldier?



Did Lee have his Army kit on him?

We're told that he was selected because he was a soldier.

I hope that we get an explanation as to how these men knew that he was and where he would be on that afternoon.

kitti wrote:Do you think it was just a coincidence that Lee was a Soldier?



Did Lee have his Army kit on him?

They knew he was a soldier kitti because of this bit

"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."

Yes, they knew he was a soldier but how?

I would imagine they had been stalking the barracks seeing who went in and out and just picked him.

That is what I think Malena. I would like to see the same done to these two men as they did to Lee but we are a civilised society, so they say.

I read early on in the case he had been working at the Tower of London that day, got changed and was making his way back to barracks. He may have been followed?

what a complete waste of time this trial this. why they weren't shot at the scene is the only question needs answering.

 

fuzeta wrote:That is what I think Malena.  I would like to see the same done to these two men as they did to Lee but we are a civilised society, so they say.  

That's what happens to them when they commit their atrocities in their countries of origin.

Marky wrote:what a complete waste of time this trial this. why they weren't shot at the scene is the only question needs answering.

 

Spot on, shoot to kill is the exact answer. Terrorists know the people who run this country are spineless narcissists who think only of the image they present to the world of, 'playing fair and rule of law'. That approach only works when dealing with a civilized society.

Absolutely Malena

He was wearing a Help for Hero's top.

so here we go. got to keep these two at the taxpayers expense for 40 some odd years or so. oh, and keep them safe from reprisals. as i said above since they both charged the police armed with knives, they posed a danger both to the police and the public. justification for sending them to paradise so they could tuck into their seventy virgins.

  

One thing puzzles me...and one thing scares me.



A video shown off the killers talking with bloodied hands and waving his knife around.....two women just cooly walked straight past him without a care in the world not even looking at a soldier with his head hacked practically off... How did they know they weren't going to be next and..



The man on sky news this morning NOT condeming what these two murderers had done....that, to me, is very scary, people like that walking amongst us.


Weird .

It is very scary Kitti. I thought the same about the women walking passed they did not look the least perturbed.  Is this what we have come to?  Walking past as if this is an everyday occurrence? It scares the **** out of me!

kitti wrote:One thing puzzles me...and one thing scares me.



A video shown off the killers  talking with  bloodied hands and waving his knife around.....two women just cooly walked straight past him without a care in the world not even looking at a soldier with his head hacked practically off... How did  they know they weren't going to be next and..



The man on sky news this morning NOT condeming what these two murderers had done....that, to me, is very scary, people like that walking amongst us.


Weird .

some people are not able to take in what is happening around them; we won't go into why; as quickly as others and as for the individual on sky; haven't seen it; why can't our security services arrange a few accidents.