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Lee Rigby was killed to wreak carnage, Woolwich trial hears Lee Rigby was killed to wreak carnage, Woolwich trial hears
(35 minutes later)
Michael Adebolajo slayed the soldier Lee Rigby in broad daylight in an attack meant to wreak carnage and play out in broad daylight, a jury has been told. Michael Adebolajo "slayed" the soldier Lee Rigby in broad daylight in an attack meant to wreak carnage , a jury has been told.
Closing the prosecution case in the Woolwich murder trial on Tuesday, Richard Whittam QC told jurors that the evidence against Adebolajo and his co-accused, Michael Adebowale, was overwhelming.Closing the prosecution case in the Woolwich murder trial on Tuesday, Richard Whittam QC told jurors that the evidence against Adebolajo and his co-accused, Michael Adebowale, was overwhelming.
"The actions of these two men acting together as they did, crashing the car and breaking the back of Lee Rigby and then killing him, is indefensible in the law of this country," Whittam said."The actions of these two men acting together as they did, crashing the car and breaking the back of Lee Rigby and then killing him, is indefensible in the law of this country," Whittam said.
"You have taken an oath or affirmation to try this case on the evidence we submit to you. That is the only just thing to do."You have taken an oath or affirmation to try this case on the evidence we submit to you. That is the only just thing to do.
"Killing to make a political point, to frighten the public and put pressure on the government of the day or as an expression of anger is murder and remains murder whether the government is a good one, a bad one or a dreadful one.""Killing to make a political point, to frighten the public and put pressure on the government of the day or as an expression of anger is murder and remains murder whether the government is a good one, a bad one or a dreadful one."
Adebolajo, 28, and Adebowale, 22, deny murdering Rigby as the soldier walked to his military barracks in Woolwich, London, on 22 May.Adebolajo, 28, and Adebowale, 22, deny murdering Rigby as the soldier walked to his military barracks in Woolwich, London, on 22 May.
Whittam said Adebolajo and Adebowale "do not accept the barbarous reality of their actions" and the intimidation caused to bystanders who witnessed the attack.Whittam said Adebolajo and Adebowale "do not accept the barbarous reality of their actions" and the intimidation caused to bystanders who witnessed the attack.
The prosecutor made a point of telling jurors that Islam, "one of the world's great religions", is not on trial "and nor could it be", and that they should not let emotion hold too great a sway when reaching their verdict.The prosecutor made a point of telling jurors that Islam, "one of the world's great religions", is not on trial "and nor could it be", and that they should not let emotion hold too great a sway when reaching their verdict.
The judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, ruled earlier on Tuesday that Adebolajo's claim that he was a "soldier of Allah" did not amount to a defence in law to the charge of murder.The judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, ruled earlier on Tuesday that Adebolajo's claim that he was a "soldier of Allah" did not amount to a defence in law to the charge of murder.
Beginning the prosecution's closing speech, Whittam referred to Adebolajo as "Mujahadeen" as he outlined what happened to Rigby.Beginning the prosecution's closing speech, Whittam referred to Adebolajo as "Mujahadeen" as he outlined what happened to Rigby.
"Lee Rigby was slayed by Mujahadeen, who sawed at his neck with a sharp instrument so that his head almost becomes detached," he told the jury."Lee Rigby was slayed by Mujahadeen, who sawed at his neck with a sharp instrument so that his head almost becomes detached," he told the jury.
"Those comments are not the excitement or exaggeration that he [Adebolajo] accused me of when he gave evidence. That is how he viewed his actions on that Wednesday afternoon.""Those comments are not the excitement or exaggeration that he [Adebolajo] accused me of when he gave evidence. That is how he viewed his actions on that Wednesday afternoon."
Flanked by seven prison guards, Adebolajo and Adebowale sat in the dock in the centre of the oak-panelled court as the jury watched video footage of Rigby's body being dragged into the road.
"Is this a humane killing?" Whittam asked when the footage ended. "Is this a killing with an attempt to decapitate and then deposit the body in the middle of the road causing traffic to stop and turn around?"
He added: "What was the purpose of what they have done, killing Lee Rigby in the way the had done, in putting the body there and staying at the scene?
"To borrow a phrase from the first defendant – carnage."
Turning to the charge of attempted murder of a police officer, Whittam instructed jurors not to be "seduced by suggestions that the sole objective was to commit suicide".
He described how the defendants charged at armed officers as they arrived at the scene, with Adebolajo coming within a metre of the police vehicle with a blood-stained machete raised above his head.
"Had he not been shot what would have happened to that machete? You have seen how he used it earlier that day," he said.
Adebolajo's barrister, David Gottlieb, began his closing speech by complaining that his client had been demonised as a "total monster" by the press and politicians.
He attacked politicians for focusing on Adebolajo's religious beliefs and took aim at the comedian Russell Brand for suggesting in a Sun column that the defendants had mental health issues.
"I suggest to you this background of religion, race, class and politics has been a toxic mix and when you add in the word terrorism, as we have in this case, it made it impossible for rational people to think straight," he told the jury.
Gottlieb said the prosecution had attempted to take "the worst possible interpretation" of events leading up to the killing, adding: "All deaths are cruel and needless and unnecessary. But do you think this is the cruellest, most sadistic, cowardly killing that's ever occurred in our nation's history? It isn't."
The trial continues.The trial continues.
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