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Woolwich trial: widow of Lee Rigby leaves court in tears Woolwich trial: widow of Lee Rigby leaves court in tears
(35 minutes later)
The widow of soldier Lee Rigby left court in tears on Monday as jurors heard eyewitness accounts of how he was run over and attacked with a meat cleaver and knives.The widow of soldier Lee Rigby left court in tears on Monday as jurors heard eyewitness accounts of how he was run over and attacked with a meat cleaver and knives.
Prosecutor Richard Whittam QC read statements made by members of the public who saw Rigby's alleged murder near Woolwich barracks in south east London on 22 May. Prosecutor Richard Whittam QC read statements made by members of the public who saw Rigby's alleged murder near Woolwich barracks in south-east London on 22 May.
Saraj Miah, who was seen in a CCTV clip talking with a local shopkeeper near the scene, said after Rigby was run over, two armed men got out of the car. One of the two attackers pointed a gun at him when he told them not to kill the soldier.Saraj Miah, who was seen in a CCTV clip talking with a local shopkeeper near the scene, said after Rigby was run over, two armed men got out of the car. One of the two attackers pointed a gun at him when he told them not to kill the soldier.
He said: "I thought that the two black men with knives were going to kill him. I told them not to kill him. They did not listen to me."He said: "I thought that the two black men with knives were going to kill him. I told them not to kill him. They did not listen to me."
One attacker slashed Rigby's throat while the other stabbed him, the court heard.One attacker slashed Rigby's throat while the other stabbed him, the court heard.
"The black man in the passenger seat with knives in both his hands stabbed the fallen man six times in his chest.""The black man in the passenger seat with knives in both his hands stabbed the fallen man six times in his chest."
He described the man who had been driving the car walking around "as if nothing had happened". He described the man who had been driving the car as walking around "as if nothing had happened".
Miah said the two men then "threw the body on the left lane of the road".Miah said the two men then "threw the body on the left lane of the road".
"I was very shocked by the incident," he added. "I could not sleep for two weeks.""I was very shocked by the incident," he added. "I could not sleep for two weeks."
Rigby's widow Rebecca left the oak-panelled courtroom in tears as the statements were read. Rigby's widow, Rebecca, left the oak-panelled courtroom in tears as the statements were read.
Shopkeeper Ibrahim Elidemir shut himself, his girlfriend and two customers inside his store when he saw one of the attackers brandishing a knife after the crash, the court heard.Shopkeeper Ibrahim Elidemir shut himself, his girlfriend and two customers inside his store when he saw one of the attackers brandishing a knife after the crash, the court heard.
In his statement, he said: "The incident has affected me very badly. It made me feel very sad. I was very frightened and very scared at the time."In his statement, he said: "The incident has affected me very badly. It made me feel very sad. I was very frightened and very scared at the time."
Two men, Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, are on trial at the Old Bailey for Rigby's murder, which they deny. They are also accused of attempting to murder a police officer and conspiracy to murder a police officer.Two men, Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, are on trial at the Old Bailey for Rigby's murder, which they deny. They are also accused of attempting to murder a police officer and conspiracy to murder a police officer.
Another witness Amanda Bailey, whose statement was also read by Whittam, described her shock at seeing the attack on the soldier, who she said looked "like a young man coming home from college".Another witness Amanda Bailey, whose statement was also read by Whittam, described her shock at seeing the attack on the soldier, who she said looked "like a young man coming home from college".
She said: "The car sped up and went straight towards the young man. He didn't seem to mind the car or notice at all."She said: "The car sped up and went straight towards the young man. He didn't seem to mind the car or notice at all."
After he was run over, she said that she thought he might be dead.After he was run over, she said that she thought he might be dead.
"I could see that his eyes were still open but they looked frozen. He wasn't moving or making any noise."I could see that his eyes were still open but they looked frozen. He wasn't moving or making any noise.
"I thought that he was dead or in shock. I couldn't see any visible injuries on him.""I thought that he was dead or in shock. I couldn't see any visible injuries on him."
Initially she thought that one of the attackers was reaching for his phone to call an ambulance.Initially she thought that one of the attackers was reaching for his phone to call an ambulance.
"I thought that he was reaching for a phone to call an ambulance or the police, so I stopped trying to phone the police. I thought 'don't worry he's doing it'. I was shocked when I saw that he had a knife.""I thought that he was reaching for a phone to call an ambulance or the police, so I stopped trying to phone the police. I thought 'don't worry he's doing it'. I was shocked when I saw that he had a knife."
Bailey described one of the men trying to decapitate Rigby.Bailey described one of the men trying to decapitate Rigby.
"He was holding the cleaver in his right hand. He was using a lot of force to hack at the young man's neck. The motion of his arm was that he was raising it up and bringing it down."He was holding the cleaver in his right hand. He was using a lot of force to hack at the young man's neck. The motion of his arm was that he was raising it up and bringing it down.
"I was so shocked all I could do was sit there and stare and what happened, I couldn't believe what was going on. He was determined and he wasn't going to stop. He didn't care. It was broad daylight and this man didn't care."I was so shocked all I could do was sit there and stare and what happened, I couldn't believe what was going on. He was determined and he wasn't going to stop. He didn't care. It was broad daylight and this man didn't care.
"The whole incident took about two minutes, but I can't be sure. It felt like a lifetime.""The whole incident took about two minutes, but I can't be sure. It felt like a lifetime."
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