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-26357007

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Lee Rigby murder: Adebolajo and Adebowale face sentence Lee Rigby murder: Adebolajo and Adebowale face sentence
(35 minutes later)
A judge at the Old Bailey is due to sentence the two men who murdered soldier Lee Rigby near Woolwich barracks in south-east London.A judge at the Old Bailey is due to sentence the two men who murdered soldier Lee Rigby near Woolwich barracks in south-east London.
Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 22, ran over Fusilier Rigby with a car before hacking him to death in May last year. Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 22, drove into Fusilier Rigby with a car before hacking him to death in May last year.
Judge Mr Justice Sweeney is hearing five victim impact statements before passing sentence. Judge Mr Justice Sweeney has heard victim impact statements.
The pair could face whole-life jail terms after a key ruling last week. Fusilier Rigby's wife Rebecca said her young child would grow up and see images "no son should have to endure".
But counsel for Adebolajo, David Gottlieb, warned an indeterminate sentence "is likely to create a martyr". Her statement was one of those from Fusilier Rigby's family, extracts of which were read out by prosecutor Richard Whittam QC.
Fusilier Rigby, who had a young son. had previously served in Afghanistan. She said about Army life: "When you wave someone off you accept that there is a chance you will never see them again. You do not expect to see this on the streets of the UK."
The court heard a statement from Ian Rigby, Fusilier Rigby's stepfather, who said the family's lives had been " irreparably changed for the worse". Ian Rigby, Fusilier Rigby's stepfather, said said the family's lives had been " irreparably changed for the worse".
He said: "After all he'd been through in Afghanistan, all Lee was doing was walking through London. After seeing the television, you just can't comprehend it." He went on: "After all he'd been through in Afghanistan, all Lee was doing was walking through London. After seeing the television, you just can't comprehend it."
His wife Rebecca Rigby said: "We live in the Army and have seen death. You do not expect to see this on the streets of the United Kingdom." Adebolajo and Adebowale could face whole-life jail terms after a Court of Appeal ruling last week upheld judges' right to jail the most serious offenders in England and Wales for the rest of their lives.
She added: "My son will grow up and see images of his dad that no son should have to endure." However, counsel for Adebolajo, David Gottlieb, warned an indeterminate sentence "is likely to create a martyr".
Fusilier Rigby was murdered as he returned to his barracks in Woolwich, south-east London. Mr Gottlieb said Adebolajo is "not so depraved or wicked that he is incapable of redemption", saying the murder "shares the characteristics of a religiously aggravated crime".
The soldier, from Middleton, Greater Manchester, died of multiple cut and stab wounds after the attack on 22 May 2013. He said that Adebolajo intended to die and still believed he should be put to death.
Adebolajo and Adebowale drove a car into Fusilier Rigby at 30 to 40mph, before dragging him into the road and attacking him with knives and attempting to decapitate him with a meat cleaver.
Adebolajo had claimed he was a "soldier of Allah" and the killing was an act of war.Adebolajo had claimed he was a "soldier of Allah" and the killing was an act of war.
The pair's sentences were delayed until a key Court of Appeal ruling in January upheld judges' right to jail the most serious offenders in England and Wales for the rest of their lives. Counsel for Michael Adebowale, Abbas Lakha QC, told the court the case was "horrific" but was not a case "where the offending is so exceptionally high that Mr Adebowale must be kept in prison for his life".
He said: "The right and proper sentence is one which does leave open the possibility of release in the future. Any other sentence would be inhuman."
At the beginning of the hearing the defendants, both dressed in black, were asked to stand, although Adebolajo did not.
Fusilier Rigby, from Middleton, Greater Manchester, was murdered as he returned to his barracks in Woolwich, south-east London on 22 May 2013. He died of multiple cut and stab wounds.
Adebolajo and Adebowale drove into Fusilier Rigby at 30 to 40mph, before dragging him into the road and attacking him with knives and attempting to decapitate him with a meat cleaver.