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Lee Rigby killer Michael Adebolajo launches appeal | Lee Rigby killer Michael Adebolajo launches appeal |
(35 minutes later) | |
Michael Adebolajo, who was given a whole-life sentence for the murder of soldier Lee Rigby, has launched an appeal against his sentence. | |
Adebolajo, 29, together with Michael Adebowale, 22, drove into Fusilier Rigby with a car before hacking him to death in Woolwich, south-east London. | Adebolajo, 29, together with Michael Adebowale, 22, drove into Fusilier Rigby with a car before hacking him to death in Woolwich, south-east London. |
At the time, judge Mr Justice Sweeney, said Adebolajo's was a "rare case" which warranted a whole-life term. | |
Adebowale was sentenced to a minimum of 45 years in jail. | |
Mr Justice Sweeney said the pair, both British-born Muslim converts, had "butchered" the 25-year-old soldier. | |
In court Adebolajo from Romford, east London denied murder, and described the killing of Fusilier Rigby as a "military operation", claiming that he was a "soldier of Allah". | |
But after hearing about the attack on 22 May last year, the jury took 90 minutes to find them both guilty. | But after hearing about the attack on 22 May last year, the jury took 90 minutes to find them both guilty. |
Adebowale from Greenwich, south-east London, received a minimum of 45 years in prison. | Adebowale from Greenwich, south-east London, received a minimum of 45 years in prison. |
'Maximum media coverage' | 'Maximum media coverage' |
Adebolajo - who has two children and four stepchildren - said he and Adebowale decided to lie in wait near Woolwich barracks, and targeted Fusilier Rigby because he was wearing a Help for Heroes hooded top, and carrying a camouflage rucksack. | |
As a police vehicle approached, the men then rushed towards it, waving the meat cleaver and a firearm. | As a police vehicle approached, the men then rushed towards it, waving the meat cleaver and a firearm. |
They were both shot, but were cleared of attempting to kill a police officer by claiming they had wanted armed officers to shoot them dead so they could "achieve martyrdom". | |
An investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) later concluded the police officers who shot the men "acted appropriately to the immediate threat". | An investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) later concluded the police officers who shot the men "acted appropriately to the immediate threat". |
Mr Justice Sweeney said the pair carried out the murder "in a way that would generate maximum media coverage", and that Adebolajo had "no real prospect of rehabilitation". | Mr Justice Sweeney said the pair carried out the murder "in a way that would generate maximum media coverage", and that Adebolajo had "no real prospect of rehabilitation". |
He added: "He [Lee Rigby] had done absolutely nothing to deserve what you did to him." | He added: "He [Lee Rigby] had done absolutely nothing to deserve what you did to him." |
At the time, Det Insp Pete Sparks, police liaison officer for Fusilier Rigby's family, read a short statement on behalf of the soldier's relatives which said that "no other sentence would have been acceptable". |