Trial begins for 2 men accused of murdering UK soldier

TWO men went on trial yesterday accused of the “cowardly and callous murder” of British soldier Lee Rigby, who was hacked to death in a London street.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, are each accused of murder, conspiracy to murder a police officer and attempted murder of a police officer.

They denied the charges at the Old Bailey court in London.

Prosecutor Richard Whittam told the jury that the suspects deliberately attacked an unarmed man from behind using a vehicle as a weapon, “and then they murdered him and mutilated his body with a meat cleaver and knives.”

The court was shown cell phone footage filmed by a witness in which a man who prosecutors said was Adebolajo, holding a bloody cleaver in his hands, spoke into the camera.

“The only reason we’ve killed this man today is because Muslims are dying daily by British soldiers,” he said. “This British soldier is an eye for an eye, a tooth for tooth.”

“You people will never be safe. Remove your governments -- they don’t care about you,” he said, referring also to British Prime Minister David Cameron.

“So get rid of them. Tell them to bring our troops back so you can all live in peace. Leave our lands and you will live in peace.”

The killing of Rigby outside the Woolwich Barracks in southeast London on May 22 shocked the nation. He left behind a wife and a young son.

Adebolajo had asked to be known as Mujaahid Abu Hamza in court, and Adebowale as Ismail Ibn Abdullah. However, the court has continued to use their given names.

The jury was told both men have pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.