This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25427562

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Lee Rigby trial: Adebowale and Adebolajo 'agree over killing' Lee Rigby trial: Adebowale and Adebolajo 'wanted martyrdom'
(35 minutes later)
One of the men accused of the murder of soldier Lee Rigby shares his co-defendant's belief that he is a soldier of Allah, the Old Bailey has heard. The two men accused of the murder of Lee Rigby wanted armed officers to shoot them dead so they could "achieve martyrdom", the Old Bailey has heard.
Michael Adebowale, who chose not to give evidence, agrees with co-defendant Michael Adebolajo's reasons for killing Fusilier Rigby, his defending counsel Abbas Lakha QC told the jury. They took an unloaded gun with them to ensure armed police arrived at the scene in Woolwich, Michael Adebowale's defending counsel Abbas Lakha QC said.
The pair acted together, said Mr Lakha. Mr Adebowale, 22, who chose not to give evidence, and Michael Adebolajo, 29, deny murdering the soldier on 22 May.
Mr Adebowale, 22, and Mr Adebolajo, 29, both deny the murder, in Woolwich, south-east London, on 22 May. They also deny attempting to murder a police officer.
Judge Mr Justice Sweeney told the jurors he expected them to retire to consider their verdicts on Thursday morning.
'No evidence'
In his closing speech, Mr Lakha said: "We submit that you will conclude that there is no evidence that there was ever any plan to kill a police officer."
The barrister said it was his client's intention for the officers who arrived at the scene to "fear for their lives".
Mr Lakha said the only reason the men brought a gun - a 90-year-old weapon that had not been oiled, was not in working condition and was not loaded - was to ensure that armed police arrived.
Both men wanted the armed officers to kill them, he said.
"That is what both defendants intended - that they would be shot and therefore would achieve martyrdom," said Mr Lakha.
He later added: "His [Mr Adebowale's] actions from beginning to end speak for themselves - it was martyrdom he was after."
'Acted together'
The two men are accused of running Fusilier Rigby over in a car and hacking him to death close to Woolwich Barracks.The two men are accused of running Fusilier Rigby over in a car and hacking him to death close to Woolwich Barracks.
They are also accused of attempting to murder a police officer, which they both they deny. Mr Lakha said both men killed him "as soldiers of Islam - this was a military operation they planned together and their target in that operation was a British soldier, and only a British soldier, no-one else".
Mr Lakha said there was no evidence they had planned to kill a police officer - but the men had wanted armed officers to kill them so they could "achieve martyrdom".
'Not guilty'
In his closing speech, Mr Lakha said both men killed Fusilier Rigby "as soldiers of Islam - this was a military operation they planned together and their target in that operation was a British soldier, and only a British soldier, no-one else".
Referring to both men with their adopted Islamic names, Adebolajo as Mujahid Abu Hamza and Adebowale as Ismail Ibn Abdullah, Mr Lakha went on: "On behalf of the second defendant [Adebowale], I did not challenge Mr Abu Hamza's evidence.Referring to both men with their adopted Islamic names, Adebolajo as Mujahid Abu Hamza and Adebowale as Ismail Ibn Abdullah, Mr Lakha went on: "On behalf of the second defendant [Adebowale], I did not challenge Mr Abu Hamza's evidence.
"What that means is Ismail agrees with what Mr Abu Hamza said about the reasons for the killing of Lee Rigby and they were acting together in that way and for those reasons. That is his case.""What that means is Ismail agrees with what Mr Abu Hamza said about the reasons for the killing of Lee Rigby and they were acting together in that way and for those reasons. That is his case."
Mr Lakha added: "The fact he has not given evidence doesn't mean he says nothing in this trial.Mr Lakha added: "The fact he has not given evidence doesn't mean he says nothing in this trial.
"He uttered the two most important words any man in any court in this land can utter - he said the words 'not guilty'.""He uttered the two most important words any man in any court in this land can utter - he said the words 'not guilty'."
Turning to the attempted murder charge, Mr Lakha said: "We submit that you will conclude that there is no evidence that there was ever any plan to kill a police officer."
The barrister said it was his client's intention for the officers who arrived at the scene to "fear for their lives".
Mr Lakha said the only reason the men brought a gun - a 90-year-old weapon that had not been oiled, was not in working condition and was not loaded - was to ensure that armed police arrived.
Both men wanted the armed officers to kill them, he said.
"That is what both defendants intended - that they would be shot and therefore would achieve martyrdom," said Mr Lakha.
He later added: "His actions from beginning to end speak for themselves - it was martyrdom he was after."
Judge Mr Justice Sweeney told the jurors he expected them to retire to consider their verdicts on Thursday morning.