Violent prisoners being converted to Islam by Rigby’s ‘charismatic’ killer
AN extremist who murdered soldier Lee Rigby has become a ‘ charismatic’ figure behind bars who is converting cellmates to Islam, a court heard yesterday.
Michael Adebolajo, 32, was described in a High Court hearing as an influential prisoner who is looked up to by his fellow inmates.
The Al Qaeda-inspired fanatic was jailed for life after he and Michael Adebowale ran over Fusilier Rigby, 25, near his barracks in Woolwich, south- east London, in May 2013, before stabbing him to death.
Adebolajo is suing the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for £25,000, claiming to have suffered ‘psychiatric injury’ when five prison officers had to restrain him after he lashed out as they escorted him from his cell in 2013. He has also demanded a Prison Service apology for this ‘gross affront to personal dignity’.
The HMP Belmarsh officers, fearing an attack, were cleared of any wrongdoing for grabbing the killer by the head and arm, knocking out two of his teeth.
During yesterday’s preliminary hearing, the judge suggested Adebolajo should receive legal aid to argue his claim.
The move is likely to add substantially to the case costs, for which taxpayers are already expected to fork out £75,000.
Mr Justice Langstaff revealed he had received information from MoJ lawyers about the power Adebolajo wields behind bars. The judge said: ‘He forms relationships easily. He is charismatic. There is intelligence suggesting he has had some influence on the conversion to Islam of some individuals.
‘There is a large group of people who look up to Adebolajo.’
Mr Justice Langstaff said any use of physical force by prison officers would have to be justified in a forthcoming trial.
The MoJ denies excessive force, submitting defence papers saying prison officers regarded Adebolajo as ‘ extremely volatile’ and ‘ an extreme risk’, who would become fixated on female staff.
Adebolajo did not attend yesterday’s brief hearing. But the judge said the killer might have to represent himself at any trial, and added it would be a ‘great pity to justice... if some means were not found to ensure he had professional help’. He said: ‘If that could be done by public funds all the better.’
The case has outraged the family of Fusilier Rigby. The Afghanistan veteran, who was off duty at the time of his murder, was butchered by the two cleaver-wielding Muslim fanatics as he lay stricken in the road. Both were jailed for life after having their £200,000 defence costs for the Old Bailey trial funded through legal aid.
Fusilier Rigby’s father, Phil McClure, 57, said: ‘Adebolajo never apologised for what he did to my son and now he wants an apology from the Prison Service?’ Families of murder victims can claim up to £11,000 compensation. Mr McClure said: ‘He’s asking for more than twice that. It’s scandalous.’
The soldier’s devastated mother Lyn, from Middleton, Manchester, has also branded the cash claim ‘blood money’.
She has said: ‘This vile killer is rubbing salt into our wounds. It is a disgrace that he would even think of asking for compensation. For me, it is the clearest proof that he has no remorse or shame for murdering my son.
‘ I’m sure this is all about antagonising the system and trying to get attention. He deserves nothing but contempt. He lost a few teeth because he was violent and was brought under control by guards. Lee lost his life and I lost my son.’
‘Rubbing salt into our wounds’