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Lee Rigby trial: Adebowale will not give evidence | Lee Rigby trial: Adebowale will not give evidence |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The jury at the Lee Rigby murder trial has been told one defendant will not give or call any evidence. | The jury at the Lee Rigby murder trial has been told one defendant will not give or call any evidence. |
The judge said jurors should not draw adverse inferences about 22-year-old Michael Adebowale's decision not to appear in the witness box. | |
He and Michael Adebolajo, 29 - who both deny murder - killed Fusilier Rigby in Woolwich, London, in May. Mr Adebolajo has said it was a "military operation". | |
The Old Bailey trial resumes next week with closing speeches. | The Old Bailey trial resumes next week with closing speeches. |
'Soldier of Allah' | 'Soldier of Allah' |
Abbas Lakha QC, for Mr Adebowale, told the court that he was calling no evidence for his client. | Abbas Lakha QC, for Mr Adebowale, told the court that he was calling no evidence for his client. |
Mr Justice Sweeney told the jurors: "The second defendant has chosen neither to give nor to call any evidence. | Mr Justice Sweeney told the jurors: "The second defendant has chosen neither to give nor to call any evidence. |
"May I direct you straight away that you are not to draw any inference adverse to him from the fact that he has chosen not to give evidence. As I told you at the outset, the law is for me and I give directions about it that you must follow." | "May I direct you straight away that you are not to draw any inference adverse to him from the fact that he has chosen not to give evidence. As I told you at the outset, the law is for me and I give directions about it that you must follow." |
The judge said that the trial was moving into its final phases with closing speeches, but he had to deal with further legal matters before the jurors would hear them. | The judge said that the trial was moving into its final phases with closing speeches, but he had to deal with further legal matters before the jurors would hear them. |
The two men are both also accused of attempting to murder a police officer and conspiracy to murder a police officer. | The two men are both also accused of attempting to murder a police officer and conspiracy to murder a police officer. |
The prosecution says Mr Adebolajo and Mr Adebowale drove a car into Fusilier Rigby at 30-40mph, before dragging him into the road and attacking him with knives and attempting to decapitate him with a meat cleaver. | The prosecution says Mr Adebolajo and Mr Adebowale drove a car into Fusilier Rigby at 30-40mph, before dragging him into the road and attacking him with knives and attempting to decapitate him with a meat cleaver. |
On Monday, Mr Adebolajo told the court it was not murder because "I am a soldier of Allah" and "this is a war". | On Monday, Mr Adebolajo told the court it was not murder because "I am a soldier of Allah" and "this is a war". |