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Lee Rigby murder: Michael Adebolajo suing over teeth lost in prison | Lee Rigby murder: Michael Adebolajo suing over teeth lost in prison |
(about 1 hour later) | |
One of the men who murdered Fusilier Lee Rigby is seeking compensation after he lost two front teeth when he was restrained by prison officers. | |
Michael Adebolajo claimed five prison officers assaulted him at London's high-security Belmarsh prison two years ago, but they were cleared of blame. | Michael Adebolajo claimed five prison officers assaulted him at London's high-security Belmarsh prison two years ago, but they were cleared of blame. |
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it would "robustly defend" the claim. | The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it would "robustly defend" the claim. |
Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale are serving life for killing Fusilier Rigby near a London barracks in May 2013. | Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale are serving life for killing Fusilier Rigby near a London barracks in May 2013. |
The Sun newspaper, which first reported the story, said the size of the compensation claim against the Prison Service was not known but similar cases had topped £20,000. | The Sun newspaper, which first reported the story, said the size of the compensation claim against the Prison Service was not known but similar cases had topped £20,000. |
Adebolajo, 32, lost his teeth while he was being held at Belmarsh on remand after the killing near Woolwich barracks, and claimed he had been assaulted by the prison officers. | Adebolajo, 32, lost his teeth while he was being held at Belmarsh on remand after the killing near Woolwich barracks, and claimed he had been assaulted by the prison officers. |
'Outraged' | 'Outraged' |
The officers were suspended from work, but were later told they had no case to answer. | The officers were suspended from work, but were later told they had no case to answer. |
The Prison Officers' Association insisted only approved techniques had been used in restraining Adebalajo. | The Prison Officers' Association insisted only approved techniques had been used in restraining Adebalajo. |
An MoJ spokesman said there had been a police investigation into the incident and no charges had been brought against members of staff. | An MoJ spokesman said there had been a police investigation into the incident and no charges had been brought against members of staff. |
"The public will be rightly outraged at the thought of this man receiving compensation from the taxpayer and we robustly defend claims made against the Prison Service," he said. | "The public will be rightly outraged at the thought of this man receiving compensation from the taxpayer and we robustly defend claims made against the Prison Service," he said. |
The MoJ said it had successfully defended two-thirds of prisoner claims over the last three years. | The MoJ said it had successfully defended two-thirds of prisoner claims over the last three years. |
At Adebolajo's trial, the court heard he and Adebowale hit Fusilier Rigby, a 25-year-old father of one, with a car, before dragging him into the road and attempting to decapitate him with a meat cleaver. | At Adebolajo's trial, the court heard he and Adebowale hit Fusilier Rigby, a 25-year-old father of one, with a car, before dragging him into the road and attempting to decapitate him with a meat cleaver. |
Mobile phone footage showed Adebolajo with bloodied hands clutching a knife and a meat cleaver moments after the attack. | Mobile phone footage showed Adebolajo with bloodied hands clutching a knife and a meat cleaver moments after the attack. |
Adebolajo had claimed he was a "soldier of Allah" and the killing was an act of war. | Adebolajo had claimed he was a "soldier of Allah" and the killing was an act of war. |
He was sentenced to a whole-life jail term for the murder, while Adebowale was sentenced to life with a minimum 45 years. | He was sentenced to a whole-life jail term for the murder, while Adebowale was sentenced to life with a minimum 45 years. |