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Lee Rigby murder trial jury retires to consider verdict Lee Rigby murder trial jury retires to consider verdict
(about 1 hour later)
The jury in the trial of two men accused of murdering the soldier Lee Rigby have retired to consider their verdict.The jury in the trial of two men accused of murdering the soldier Lee Rigby have retired to consider their verdict.
The judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, told the jury that they must be "cool, calm, careful and dispassionate" and guard against emotion entering their deliberations.The judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, told the jury that they must be "cool, calm, careful and dispassionate" and guard against emotion entering their deliberations.
The jury of eight women and four men retired at 11.11am on Thursday to consider whether Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 22, murdered Rigby outside Woolwich military barracks on 22 May.The jury of eight women and four men retired at 11.11am on Thursday to consider whether Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 22, murdered Rigby outside Woolwich military barracks on 22 May.
The jury has heard how Adebolajo and Adebowale used a Vauxhall Tigra to mow down the 25-year-old soldier before hacking him to death with knives, including a meat cleaver and a butcher's knife.The jury has heard how Adebolajo and Adebowale used a Vauxhall Tigra to mow down the 25-year-old soldier before hacking him to death with knives, including a meat cleaver and a butcher's knife.
Earlier in the trial Adebolajo described himself as a "soldier of Allah" and told how he attempted to decapitate the fusilier in a strike against the west.Earlier in the trial Adebolajo described himself as a "soldier of Allah" and told how he attempted to decapitate the fusilier in a strike against the west.
Sweeney told the jury at the Old Bailey in central London that they must not allow emotion to influence their decision.Sweeney told the jury at the Old Bailey in central London that they must not allow emotion to influence their decision.
He said: "To state the obvious – neither media or internet reporting, or speculation or emotion, can have any part to play in your deliberations.He said: "To state the obvious – neither media or internet reporting, or speculation or emotion, can have any part to play in your deliberations.
"Guarding against speculation or emotion entering into your deliberations is particularly important in cases of this type. What's required of you is a cool, calm, careful and dispassionate consideration of the evidence.""Guarding against speculation or emotion entering into your deliberations is particularly important in cases of this type. What's required of you is a cool, calm, careful and dispassionate consideration of the evidence."
Adebolajo and Adebowale deny the count of murder and a count of attempted murder of a police officer.Adebolajo and Adebowale deny the count of murder and a count of attempted murder of a police officer.
Sweeney finished summing up the case before sending the jury out to begin their deliberations. Quoting from a pathologist's report on Rigby's injuries, he said the soldier had suffered "deep incised wounds which almost encircled all the way around the neck". Some of the blows to the neck "must have involved severe force", Sweeney added.Sweeney finished summing up the case before sending the jury out to begin their deliberations. Quoting from a pathologist's report on Rigby's injuries, he said the soldier had suffered "deep incised wounds which almost encircled all the way around the neck". Some of the blows to the neck "must have involved severe force", Sweeney added.
On Wednesday, the judge had told jurors to use "your joint experience of life and your common sense" in coming to a verdict.On Wednesday, the judge had told jurors to use "your joint experience of life and your common sense" in coming to a verdict.
He said: "You apply the law as I direct you to the facts as you find them to be, and by that we will between us ensure that you return true verdicts according to the evidence in this case."He said: "You apply the law as I direct you to the facts as you find them to be, and by that we will between us ensure that you return true verdicts according to the evidence in this case."
Addressing the question of intent, Sweeney said there was no psychiatric evidence that either defendant was incapable of forming an intent. "Just like a drunken intent, an intent driven by religious belief is still an intent," he said.Addressing the question of intent, Sweeney said there was no psychiatric evidence that either defendant was incapable of forming an intent. "Just like a drunken intent, an intent driven by religious belief is still an intent," he said.
Sweeney told jurors that they must consider three key factors in relation to the murder count.Sweeney told jurors that they must consider three key factors in relation to the murder count.
The first is whether Lee Rigby was under the Queen's peace at the time of the alleged murder – effectively whether or not he was killed in the course of war. The first is whether Rigby was under the Queen's peace at the time of the alleged murder – effectively whether or not he was killed in the course of war.
The second is whether he was unlawfully killed, and the third is whether the defendants were involved in a "joint enterprise" to kill him or cause him really serious harm.The second is whether he was unlawfully killed, and the third is whether the defendants were involved in a "joint enterprise" to kill him or cause him really serious harm.
Witnesses to the killing in Artillery Place, south London, had told the court how the attack was "like a butcher attacking a joint of meat". One bystander told how he "instantly believed that he was trying to cut the victim's head off" when he saw a man using a meat cleaver to mutilate Rigby's motionless body.Witnesses to the killing in Artillery Place, south London, had told the court how the attack was "like a butcher attacking a joint of meat". One bystander told how he "instantly believed that he was trying to cut the victim's head off" when he saw a man using a meat cleaver to mutilate Rigby's motionless body.
A third witness said Adebolajo had a look of "pure evil" after attacking Rigby's head while his accomplice rammed knives into his chest, like he was "trying to remove his organs from his torso".A third witness said Adebolajo had a look of "pure evil" after attacking Rigby's head while his accomplice rammed knives into his chest, like he was "trying to remove his organs from his torso".
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