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Woolwich murder accused told police Lee Rigby was fair target, court hears Michael Adebolajo told police Lee Rigby was killed humanely, court hears
(about 1 hour later)
Michael Adebolajo told police he struck Lee Rigby and attempted to remove his head because he believed the soldier was a fair target, a jury has heard. Michael Adebolajo told police in graphic detail how he killed Lee Rigby in the most humane way possible by cutting his jugular, a jury has heard.
Adebolajo, 28, told detectives in an interview heard by jurors on Thursday that Rigby was "the non-Muslim version of myself" and that he was killed in a humane way. Adebolajo, who denies murdering Rigby, said in an interview heard by jurors on Thursday that "it was almost as if I was not in control of myself" during the attack on the fusilier on 22 May.
"We exited the vehicle and I am not sure how I struck the first blow … the most humane way to kill any creature is to cut the jugular … he may be my enemy but he is a man … so I struck at the neck and attempted to remove his head," said Adebolajo in the interview played at the Old Bailey. He told police how he lay in wait for a soldier outside Woolwich military barracks, in south London, and that he considered Rigby "the non-Muslim version of myself".
Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, 22, deny murdering Rigby as the soldier walked to his military barracks in Woolwich, south London, on 22 May. They also deny conspiracy to murder a police officer and attempted murder of a police officer. Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, 22, deny murdering Rigby as the soldier walked to his military barracks in Woolwich. They also deny conspiracy to murder a police officer and attempted murder of a police officer.
In a 45-minute police interview played to jurors, Adebolajo described how on the day of the attack he had "set out determined that this way we will obey the command of Allah". Jurors heard how Adebolajo told police in a 45-minute interview 10 days after the killing that it was "almost as if Allah had chosen him" as Rigby crossed the road in front of their Vauxhall Tigra.
He decided that Rigby was "the most fair target because he joins the army with kind of an understanding that your life is at risk", the jury heard. His voice broke as he described the attack: "On 22 May me and my brother Ismael set out determined that this day we will obey the command of Allah.
Adebolajo told detectives that he and Adebolawe sat in wait and "it just so happened that he was the soldier that was spotted first". "We decided – and may Allah forgive me if my words cause Ismael any harm, he was a good man … we decided to wait in the vicinity of the barracks in Woolwich. By the command of Allah we waited to find a soldier because we decided that the soldier is the most fair target because he joins the army with the understanding that your life is at risk if you join the army.
"It was almost as if Allah had chosen him … when I thought about obeying Allah in the past I thought maybe it is possible to kill a man by driving into him," Adebolajo was heard to say. "We set out and it just so happened that he was the solider that was spotted first. Almost as if Allah had chosen him for some reason he chose to cross in front of our vehicle. Things happened so quickly you know. When I thought about obeying Allah I thought maybe is it possible to kill a man by driving into him.
In the video-recorded interview, Adebolajo said that neither he nor Adebowale – whom he referred to as "my brother Ismael" – hated Rigby or his family and that it was not a vendetta against them. "When he crossed the road so casually in front of me it was almost as if I was not in control of myself. I accelerated. I hit him, and I think I also crashed into a signpost."
He continued: "When he [Rigby] crossed the road in front of me … it was almost as if I was not in control of myself. I accelerated, I hit him and I think I also crashed into a signpost … we wished to fulfil our promise to Allah, we did not wish to give him much pain." The jury heard Adebolajo speak slowly as he described his next move: "We exited the vehicle and I am not sure how I struck the first blow. I do not remember to be honest. But I concluded many, many years ago that the most humane way to kill any creature is to cut the jugular.
"Why make it prolonged? He is a man. He may be my enemy but he is a man so I struck at the neck and attempted to remove his head. And that is how Lee Rigby died."
Rigby's mother, Lyn, cried as she listened to the interview, positioned to the right of the dock where Adebolajo and Adebowale were sitting with a sheet of brown paper blocking the family's view of the defendants.Rigby's mother, Lyn, cried as she listened to the interview, positioned to the right of the dock where Adebolajo and Adebowale were sitting with a sheet of brown paper blocking the family's view of the defendants.
In the interview, Adebolajo complained about two police officers who had interviewed him earlier, describing them as "disgusting and despicable". Adebolajo mentioned Rigby's family repeatedly during the 45-minute interview, in which he was rarely interrupted.
After a long pause, he went on: "Lee Rigby. I see him like the non-Muslim version of myself and my brother Ismael. He is a man who is willing to give his life and travel the globe to fight for his country." He said at one point: "I have never met the family of Lee Rigby. I do not hate them, nor does my brother Ismael. This is no personal vendetta against Lee Rigby's family even though we have caused them a lot of heartache."
The interview with Detective Constable Bhatt and Detective Sergeant Thompson was the fourth to take place on 1 June, 10 days after Rigby was killed. Jurors had earlier watched Adebolajo walk out of two previous interviews, telling the detectives he had no patience with them. He added: "This is not something I enjoy. It's not something that pleases me. In fact it saddens me."
After one intervention by police, Adebolajo said: "Lee Rigby. I see him like the non-Muslim version of myself and my brother Ismael. He is a man who is willing to give his life and travel the globe to fight for his country."
The interview was the fourth to take place on 1 June, 10 days after Rigby was killed. Jurors had earlier watched Adebolajo walk out of two previous interviews, telling the detectives he had no patience with them.
Adebolajo appeared in the interviews with a light-blue cell blanket draped over his head, lowering it around his shoulders only as he stood up to leave the room.Adebolajo appeared in the interviews with a light-blue cell blanket draped over his head, lowering it around his shoulders only as he stood up to leave the room.
The jury heard on Wednesday that the defendant had earlier been passed fit to be interviewed by doctors and a psychiatrist, who described Adebolajo as mentally stable and of showing no remorse or regret. The jury heard on Wednesday that the defendant had earlier been judged fit to be interviewed by doctors and a psychiatrist, who described Adebolajo as mentally stable and showing no remorse or regret.
Adebolajo changed tack at times in the interview. On one tangent, the jury heard the suspect praising the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, saying he would answer "straight questions" unlike the other "filthy pigs" in parliament.
He said that if Farage was elected prime minister "and he was willing to be true to his word then we can negotiate on anything".
After 45 minutes, Adebolajo told detectives he had been "generous" with his time in taking part in the interview and called it to an end. He had earlier said he was in pain and was seen with a cast on his left arm, following surgery to the gunshot wound he sustained in his upper left biceps.
The trial has heard previously how the two men hacked repeatedly at Rigby's body, almost severing his head, after mowing him down in a Vauxhall Tigra.The trial has heard previously how the two men hacked repeatedly at Rigby's body, almost severing his head, after mowing him down in a Vauxhall Tigra.
The pair deny murder.
The trial continues.The trial continues.
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