Lee Rigby murderer apologises, saying he misinterpreted Koran
MICHAEL ADEBOLAJO has apologised for the first time for the murder of Lee Rigby, saying he was “brainwashed” and “misinterpreted the Koran”.
Adebolajo, 33, has expressed remorse and “regret” for the murder and plans to write a letter of apology to the fusilier’s family, according to The Sun on Sunday.
A source said: “A month ago he approached a fellow inmate and a member of 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.
“He even admitted he misinterpreted the Koran in trying to justify his horrific actions.”
Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, 27, his accomplice, are serving life sentences after they ran the soldier over and hacked him to death outside his barracks in Woolwich, south-east London, in 2013. At his trial Adebolajo, who clutched and kissed a copy of the Koran, insisted on being called Mujahid Abu Hamza, but has reportedly now asked to be known as Michael.
A second source said that Adebolajo planned to write a letter of apology to Mr Rigby’s family. However, Mr Rigby’s mother told the newspaper that she would not accept it. Lyn Rigby, 51, said: “I don’t accept his sorrow or regret as genuine. And I never want him to contact me or my family.” A Prison Service spokesman said: “We do not comment on individual prisoners.”