RIGBY KILLER’S ‘CONTROL OVER OTHER INMATES’
He’s converting them to Islam, court is told
ONE of the men convicted of the brutal murder of soldier Lee Rigby has converted several other prisoners to Islam since being jailed.
Michael Adebolajo was “charismatic” and other inmates looked up to him, heard Mr Justice Langstaff at the High Court.
Detail of the influence Adebolajo wielded in jail has emerged after he took legal action against the Ministry of Justice.
He claims he was injured by prison officers during an incident in a cell and wants compensation.
Mr Justice Langstaff oversaw a preliminary hearing in the case at the High Court in London on Tuesday. He said any trial was some distance off and made an order barring prison officers involved from being identified in media reports.
Fusilier Rigby, 25, died after being attacked near Woolwich Barracks in south-east London in May 2013.
Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale were convicted of murder following a trial at the Old Bailey.
Adebolajo was given a whole-life jail term. Adebowale was jailed for life with a minimum term of 45 years.
Jurors heard that they mowed down Fusilier Rigby in a car before hacking him to death.
Mr Justice Langstaff said Adebolajo had complained about an incident in a cell while on remand in July 2013.
Lawyers representing the Ministry of Justice said prison officers likely to give evidence at any trial could be in danger if their names emerged in media reports.
Force
They gave the judge detail of the influence Adebolajo had in prison.
“He forms relationships easily,” said the judge.
“He is charismatic. There is intelligence suggesting that he has had some influence on the conversion to Islam of some individuals.”
The judge added: “There is a large group of people who look up to Adebolajo.”
Mr Justice Langstaff said the incident at the centre of Adebolajo’s claim had occurred while he was awaiting trial.
Five prison officers had been escorting Adebolajo. Physical force had been used to restrain him.
He had been held by the head and an arm and had lost two front teeth.
Ministry of Justice lawyers told the judge that prison officers were “deeply unhappy” about being involved in legal proceedings.
Adebolajo screamed “Allahu akbar” as he and Adebowale were sentenced by a judge at the Old Bailey in February 2014 after being convicted of Fusilier Rigby’s murder.
The two British-born extremists, who were dressed in Islamic robes, erupted with rage as Mr Justice Sweeney told them that they had been radicalised and betrayed their religion.