Lee Rigby’s killer accused of shedding crocodile tears over prison confession
A KILLER of soldier Lee Rigby was accused of “crocodile tears” yesterday after he reportedly admitted his guilt and expressed “regret”.
Michael Adebolajo, 33, is said to be planning to write a letter of apology to the family of Lee, 25.
But sources described the U-turn as astonishing and pointed out that only months ago, Adebolajo was trying to milk the taxpayer of £20,000 for compensation after a scuffle with prison guards.
One source close to the case said: “This is a clear case of crocodile tears. Too little too late, and also very difficult to believe.”
Fusilier Rigby’s mother Lyn said she was repulsed by Adebolajo’s change of heart and will never forgive him for killing her son five years ago.
She said: “To hear his killer say that Lee was innocent and that he regrets killing him is the ultimate kick in the teeth.”
The 51-year-old, from Middleton, Greater Manchester, has battled depression since the death of her son.
Adebolajo and accomplice Michael Adebowale murdered Fusilier Rigby near his barracks in Woolwich, southeast London.
They mowed him down in a car before hacking him to death with knives and a cleaver.
It is understood that Adebolajo, caged for life for murdering Fusilier Rigby, expressed his new-found remorse to prison staff and a fellow inmate.
The killer, who cited the Koran moments after the 2013 atrocity, also claimed he “misinterpreted” Islam’s holy book. In a further bizarre shift from his previously radical ways, he has asked to be known as Michael after years of insisting he be called Mujahid Abu Hamza.
Another source said: “Adebolajo is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous extremists in the prison system. He has never wavered from his beliefs before – which makes this confession all the more remarkable.
“A month ago he approached a fellow inmate and a member of the prison pastoral staff to say he finally regretted the murder.
“He told them he acknowledged for the first time he had taken an innocent life.”
The source added: “He even admitted he misinterpreted the Koran in trying to justify his horrific actions.
“It’s an astonishing rejection of extremist beliefs.”
After the murder, Adebolajo his was filmed on a mobile phone standing in the street covered in blood trying to justify the atrocity.
He was later sent to Belmarsh prison in south-east London where he lashed out at five guards before hitting his head on a window.
The officers were cleared by a sixweek police investigation.
Adebolajo was later found to be trying to radicalise other inmates and was moved to Frankland jail in County Durham.
Another source said: “He now wants to tell Lee’s family how sorry he is and is talking about writing to explain himself for his horrific actions.
“But regardless of how much remorse he feels, it won’t affect his life jail sentence.”
Last night a Prison Service spokeswoman said: “We do not comment on individual prisoners.”