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| Lee Rigby murder: Adebolajo and Adebowale jailed | Lee Rigby murder: Adebolajo and Adebowale jailed |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Michael Adebolajo has been given a whole-life term and Michael Adebowale has been jailed for a minimum of 45 years for murdering Fusilier Lee Rigby. | Michael Adebolajo has been given a whole-life term and Michael Adebowale has been jailed for a minimum of 45 years for murdering Fusilier Lee Rigby. |
| Adebolajo, 29, and Adebowale, 22, drove into Fusilier Rigby with a car before hacking him to death in Woolwich, south-east London, in May last year. | Adebolajo, 29, and Adebowale, 22, drove into Fusilier Rigby with a car before hacking him to death in Woolwich, south-east London, in May last year. |
| The judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, said Adebolajo's was one of those "rare cases" warranting a whole-life term. | The judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, said Adebolajo's was one of those "rare cases" warranting a whole-life term. |
| The pair were absent during sentencing after a fracas in the dock. | The pair were absent during sentencing after a fracas in the dock. |
| As Mr Justice Sweeney began to sentence the men they started shouting and scuffling with court security guards. They had to be forced to the ground and were removed from court. | As Mr Justice Sweeney began to sentence the men they started shouting and scuffling with court security guards. They had to be forced to the ground and were removed from court. |
| Fusilier Rigby's family sobbed as Adebolajo shouted "Allahu Akbar", and Adebowale called out "that's a lie" as the judge told them their extremist views were "a betrayal of Islam". | Fusilier Rigby's family sobbed as Adebolajo shouted "Allahu Akbar", and Adebowale called out "that's a lie" as the judge told them their extremist views were "a betrayal of Islam". |
| One relative needed medical treatment after the outbursts. The judge later apologised for the fact that the family had to witness what happened in the dock. | One relative needed medical treatment after the outbursts. The judge later apologised for the fact that the family had to witness what happened in the dock. |
| Sentencing the killers in their absence, the judge said they had been convicted on "overwhelming" evidence of the "barbaric" murder of Fusilier Rigby. | Sentencing the killers in their absence, the judge said they had been convicted on "overwhelming" evidence of the "barbaric" murder of Fusilier Rigby. |
| The British Muslim converts had "butchered" the 25-year-old soldier, he said. | The British Muslim converts had "butchered" the 25-year-old soldier, he said. |
| Adebolajo was the leader of the "joint enterprise", the judge said, but Adebowale played his part "enthusiastically". | Adebolajo was the leader of the "joint enterprise", the judge said, but Adebowale played his part "enthusiastically". |
| Mr Justice Sweeney said the pair carried out the murder "in a way that would generate maximum media coverage". | Mr Justice Sweeney said the pair carried out the murder "in a way that would generate maximum media coverage". |
| "He had done absolutely nothing to deserve what you did to him", the judge said. The pair created "a bloodbath", he went on, adding: "You both gloried in what you had done. | |
| "Your sickening and pitiful conduct was in stark contrast to the women at the scene who tended to Lee Rigby's body and challenged what you had done." | "Your sickening and pitiful conduct was in stark contrast to the women at the scene who tended to Lee Rigby's body and challenged what you had done." |
| Speaking outside court, Det Insp Pete Sparks, police liaison officer for Fusilier Rigby's family, read a short statement on behalf of the family saying "no other sentence would have been acceptable". | Speaking outside court, Det Insp Pete Sparks, police liaison officer for Fusilier Rigby's family, read a short statement on behalf of the family saying "no other sentence would have been acceptable". |
| "We feel satisfied that justice has been served for Lee", the statement said. | "We feel satisfied that justice has been served for Lee", the statement said. |
| Home Secretary Theresa May said the sentences showed "extremist behaviour of any kind will never be tolerated in Britain". | |
| "Our thoughts are of course with Lee Rigby's family, who have endured unimaginable heartbreak over the last nine months. I hope they will take some comfort from this judgment." | |
| Sue Hemming, head of special crime and counter terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service, said Adebolajo and Adebowale had "revelled in one of the most appalling terrorist murders I have seen". | Sue Hemming, head of special crime and counter terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service, said Adebolajo and Adebowale had "revelled in one of the most appalling terrorist murders I have seen". |
| "Not only was the attack brutal and calculated; it was also designed to advance extremist views," she said. | |
| Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Cressida Dick said the sentences reflected the "true horror" of Fusilier Rigby's murder. | Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Cressida Dick said the sentences reflected the "true horror" of Fusilier Rigby's murder. |
| Earlier, Fusilier Rigby's wife Rebecca said her young child would grow up and see images "no son should have to endure". | Earlier, Fusilier Rigby's wife Rebecca said her young child would grow up and see images "no son should have to endure". |
| Her statement was one of those from Fusilier Rigby's family, read out by prosecutor Richard Whittam QC. | Her statement was one of those from Fusilier Rigby's family, read out by prosecutor Richard Whittam QC. |
| Mrs Rigby said she had accepted her husband's life would be at risk when he was deployed to Afghanistan, but not when he was in the UK. | Mrs Rigby said she had accepted her husband's life would be at risk when he was deployed to Afghanistan, but not when he was in the UK. |
| She said: "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." | She said: "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 also heard part of a statement from the soldier's stepfather, Ian Rigby. | The court also heard part of a statement from the soldier's stepfather, Ian Rigby. |
| 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 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." |
| Adebolajo and Adebowale faced 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. | Adebolajo and Adebowale faced 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. |
| However, counsel for Adebolajo, David Gottlieb, had warned an indeterminate sentence would "create a martyr". | However, counsel for Adebolajo, David Gottlieb, had warned an indeterminate sentence would "create a martyr". |
| Mr Gottlieb said Adebolajo was "not so depraved or wicked that he is incapable of redemption", saying the murder "shares the characteristics of a religiously aggravated crime". | Mr Gottlieb said Adebolajo was "not so depraved or wicked that he is incapable of redemption", saying the murder "shares the characteristics of a religiously aggravated crime". |
| He said that Adebolajo intended to die and still believed he should be put to death. | He said that Adebolajo intended to die and still believed he should be put to death. |
| 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. |
| However, Mr Justice Sweeney rejected his mitigation, saying Adebolajo has "no real prospect of rehabilitation". | However, Mr Justice Sweeney rejected his mitigation, saying Adebolajo has "no real prospect of rehabilitation". |
| Counsel for Michael Adebowale, Abbas Lakha QC, told the court the killing 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". | Counsel for Michael Adebowale, Abbas Lakha QC, told the court the killing 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." | 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." |
| Addressing Adebowale, the judge said: "I am persuaded that the combination of your lesser role, your age and your pre‐existing and continuing mental condition mean that it is not appropriate in your case to impose a whole-life term." | Addressing Adebowale, the judge said: "I am persuaded that the combination of your lesser role, your age and your pre‐existing and continuing mental condition mean that it is not appropriate in your case to impose a whole-life term." |
| 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. | 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. |
| Arrests | Arrests |
| 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. | 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. |
| Outside court, three people were arrested as far-right protesters gathered while the pair were being sentenced. | Outside court, three people were arrested as far-right protesters gathered while the pair were being sentenced. |
| Supporters of the British National Party and the English Defence League gathered around a makeshift gallows constructed in the street and held placards calling for the capital punishment to be restored. | |
| Protesters cheered when the sentences were announced. | |
| A City of London Police spokesman said two men were arrested, one on suspicion of actual bodily harm and one for affray. | A City of London Police spokesman said two men were arrested, one on suspicion of actual bodily harm and one for affray. |
| A woman was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. | A woman was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. |