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| Lee Rigby murder: Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale sentenced to life and 45 years | Lee Rigby murder: Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale sentenced to life and 45 years |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The men who murdered soldier Lee Rigby on a street in Woolwich have been sentenced to life and 45 years at the Old Bailey. | The men who murdered soldier Lee Rigby on a street in Woolwich have been sentenced to life and 45 years at the Old Bailey. |
| Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 22, ran the young soldier down in a car before hacking him to death on a street near Woolwich barracks in May. | Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 22, ran the young soldier down in a car before hacking him to death on a street near Woolwich barracks in May. |
| Mr Adebolajo was given a life sentence, while Mr Adebowale was sentenced to a minimum of 45 years in prison. | Mr Adebolajo was given a life sentence, while Mr Adebowale was sentenced to a minimum of 45 years in prison. |
| Unless the Justice Secretary gives permission, Mr Adebolajo will never be released from prison, because as he has no prospect of rehabilitation, according to the judge. | |
| Mr Adebowale's age was a mitigating factor in his sentencing, the court heard. | |
| Violence broke out in the dock at the Old Bailey during the proceedings. | |
| Both men shouted at Mr Justice Sweeney in protest at remarks he made regarding their extremism, and they were pinned to the ground by several security guards. | |
| The defendants were then removed from the courtroom and taken to their cells at the request of the judge. | The defendants were then removed from the courtroom and taken to their cells at the request of the judge. |
| While the men were out of court, Mr Justice Sweeney said that they had "gloried" in what they had done and said it would have a "severe and lasting impact" on Mr Rigby's family. | |
| He added that they had been convicted on "overwhelming" evidence of the "barbaric" murder of Mr Rigby. | |
| Mr Adebolajo was the leader of the "joint enterprise", the judge said, but Mr Adebowale played his part "enthusiastically". | Mr Adebolajo was the leader of the "joint enterprise", the judge said, but Mr Adebowale played his part "enthusiastically". |
| Mr Justice Sweeny called the killers' behaviour "sickening and pitiful" in contrast to the compassion shown by the women who tended to Mr Rigby at the scene. | Mr Justice Sweeny called the killers' behaviour "sickening and pitiful" in contrast to the compassion shown by the women who tended to Mr Rigby at the scene. |
| WARNING: graphic footage | WARNING: graphic footage |
| The struggle in the dock was triggered when the killers reacted angrily to comments that Mr Justice Sweeney made about their extremist beliefs. | |
| He said: "You each converted to Islam some years ago. Thereafter you were radicalised and each became an extremist, espousing views which, as has been said elsewhere, are a betrayal of Islam." | |
| Adebowale protested that this was a lie, ranting about America and Britain, and his accomplice joined in, chanting "allahu akbar". | |
| They were then grappled him to the ground by prison guards and taken to their cells | |
| The soldier's family were visibly distressed, and one relative needed medical treatment. | |
| Checking Mr Rigby's family were OK, the judge continued that the murder also betrayed "the peaceful Muslim communities who give so much to our country". | |
| The murder was a show of "extremist views", he said, adding: "[they murdered a] soldier in public in broad daylight" to generate "maximum media coverage including getting yourselves killed by armed officers who were bound to arrive at the scene". | |
| "[Mr Rigby] had done absolutely nothing to deserve what you went on to do to him," Mr Justice Sweeney said. | |
| He added: "It is no exaggeration to say that what the two of you did resulted in a bloodbath." | |
| Following the sentencing, Mr Rigby's family said they are "satisfied that justice has been served" and the killers had received the "right prison terms". | |
| Fusilier Lee Rigby of the Royal Regiment of Fusilier, whose killers were sentenced on Wednesday In a statement read by family liaison officer Detective Inspector Pete Sparks, the soldier's family said: "We would like to thank the judge and the courts for handing down what we believe to be the right prison terms. | |
| "We would also like to thank everyone who has supported us in the last nine months. | |
| "It has brought us a lot of comfort and we feel satisfied that justice has been served for Lee. We now ask to continue to grieve in private." | |
| Mr Justice Sweeney had delayed today's sentencing hearing until after a key appeal court decision earlier this month, which found that whole-life terms can legally be used by UK judges. | Mr Justice Sweeney had delayed today's sentencing hearing until after a key appeal court decision earlier this month, which found that whole-life terms can legally be used by UK judges. |
| And though the court heard from David Gottlieb, representing Adebolajo, who warned that a whole-life term was "likely to create a martyr", Mr Justice Sweeney said. | And though the court heard from David Gottlieb, representing Adebolajo, who warned that a whole-life term was "likely to create a martyr", Mr Justice Sweeney said. |
| Adebowale's lawyer described how the 22-year-old's acts "were as a result of a psychiatric condition". He said that, though the killing was a "joint enterprise", the younger man played a lesser role in the offence. | Adebowale's lawyer described how the 22-year-old's acts "were as a result of a psychiatric condition". He said that, though the killing was a "joint enterprise", the younger man played a lesser role in the offence. |
| Earlier today the court also heard about the impact of the attack to the family of Fusilier Rigby, 25, and a statement from the soldier's stepfather described the shock of seeing footage of the brutal attack on TV. | Earlier today the court also heard about the impact of the attack to the family of Fusilier Rigby, 25, and a statement from the soldier's stepfather described the shock of seeing footage of the brutal attack on TV. |
| Prosecutor Richard Whittam QC read out excerpts of the statement from Fusilier Rigby's widow, Rebecca, who told the court: "I know my son will grow up and see images of his dad that no son should have to endure. | Prosecutor Richard Whittam QC read out excerpts of the statement from Fusilier Rigby's widow, Rebecca, who told the court: "I know my son will grow up and see images of his dad that no son should have to endure. |
| Ms Rigby said that she had accepted her husband would be at risk serving in Afghanistan, but not in Britain, where he was based when he died. | Ms Rigby said that she had accepted her husband would be at risk serving in Afghanistan, but not in Britain, where he was based when he died. |
| "We both talked about the dangers of Afghanistan and braced ourselves for it," she said. "You do not expect to see this on the streets of the UK." | "We both talked about the dangers of Afghanistan and braced ourselves for it," she said. "You do not expect to see this on the streets of the UK." |
| Mr Gottlieb said it was accepted the defendants ran the soldier over in a car to render him unconscious, and that there was no evidence they deliberately mutilated Fusilier Rigby's body. | Mr Gottlieb said it was accepted the defendants ran the soldier over in a car to render him unconscious, and that there was no evidence they deliberately mutilated Fusilier Rigby's body. |
| "There's evidence he can be rehabilitated now, not much evidence but some evidence," Mr Gottlieb added. | "There's evidence he can be rehabilitated now, not much evidence but some evidence," Mr Gottlieb added. |
| Abbas Lakha QC, for Adebowale, had said he "is still a young man", and that he should not be sentenced to die behind bars. | Abbas Lakha QC, for Adebowale, had said he "is still a young man", and that he should not be sentenced to die behind bars. |
| Outside the Old Bailey members of the public shouted at prison vans leaving the building. | |
| A number of far right protesters from the British National Party had remained outside the court all day, with two sets of gallows, calling for the killers to face the death penalty. | |
| Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, who heads Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command, said: "Today's sentence reflects the true horror of their actions in taking this young man's life in such a barbaric way. | |
| Relatives of murdered fusilier Lee Rigby, (L-R) his stepfather Ian Rigby, his mother Lyn Rigby, his sisters Sara McClure and Chelsea Rigby, arrive at the Old Bailey "Our thoughts remain with Lee's loved ones, who have shown dignity and strength throughout the judicial process." | |
| During their Old Bailey trial last year, Adebowale, from Greenwich, south-east London, offered no evidence in his defence, but Adebolajo, from Romford, Essex, gave a rambling testimony during which he told the jury he loved al-Qa'ida. | During their Old Bailey trial last year, Adebowale, from Greenwich, south-east London, offered no evidence in his defence, but Adebolajo, from Romford, Essex, gave a rambling testimony during which he told the jury he loved al-Qa'ida. |
| He claimed that they were "soldiers of Allah" and had carried out the killing in front of horrified onlookers on 22 May as revenge for abuse of Muslims abroad. | He claimed that they were "soldiers of Allah" and had carried out the killing in front of horrified onlookers on 22 May as revenge for abuse of Muslims abroad. |
| They chose Fusilier Rigby, 25, as their victim because he was wearing a Help for Heroes hooded top that day, and they assumed he was a soldier. | They chose Fusilier Rigby, 25, as their victim because he was wearing a Help for Heroes hooded top that day, and they assumed he was a soldier. |
| After the pair were convicted at the Old Bailey in December, Adebolajo kissed his Koran and raised it into the air as he and his accomplice were led down to the cells. | After the pair were convicted at the Old Bailey in December, Adebolajo kissed his Koran and raised it into the air as he and his accomplice were led down to the cells. |
| Fusilier Rigby's family, who were praised for their dignity throughout the trial, welcomed the killers' convictions. | Fusilier Rigby's family, who were praised for their dignity throughout the trial, welcomed the killers' convictions. |
| His mother Lyn said: "We are satisfied that justice has been served, but unfortunately no amount of justice will ever bring Lee back." | His mother Lyn said: "We are satisfied that justice has been served, but unfortunately no amount of justice will ever bring Lee back." |