Woolwich Trial: 'Killer Nearly Beheaded Soldier'

Lee Rigby's mother and widow left the Old Bailey in tears today after hearing how the soldier was nearly decapitated outside a primary school.

Relatives fled the packed Old Bailey courtroom moments before the jury was shown video footage of the Fusilier being hit by a car, driven by the alleged killers.

There were gasps from the public gallery as the video showed a Vauxhall Tigra knocking the soldier down before crashing into a road sign.

The court was told that the two men then got out of the car, dragged the unconscious soldier into the street, and attacked him with a meat cleaver and knives.

Rebecca Rigby, Lee Rigby's widow arrives at the Old Bailey

The defendants chose to mutilate the soldier in the middle of the road - just yards from a primary school - so people could watch, the court was told.

One witness account, outlined by the prosecution, described how one of the attackers "knelt down" by Mr Rigby and took hold of his hair.

"He then repeatedly hacked at the right side of his neck just below the jawline," Mr Richard Whittam, QC, prosecuting, said.

Another witness described the attack as "like a butcher attacking a joint of meat", Mr Whittam added. 

And another woman, Vikki Cave, told police she heard the taller of the alleged killers talking about "religion".

Mr Whittam said he was "saying things about religion such as 'these soldiers go to our land, kill/bomb our people - so an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth"'.

A tribute to Lee Rigby, 25, who died in south east London

The court heard that one of the alleged killers, Michael Adebolajo, handed a letter containing religious references to Ms Amanda Donnelly Martin.

It said: "Fighting Allah's enemies is an obligation", and went on: "Do not spend your days in endless discussion with the cowardly and foolish. 

"It means that it will delay your meeting Allah's enemies on the battlefield. Sometimes the cowardly and foolish can be those dearest to you. So be prepared to turn away from them."

The letter continued: "Muslims will trade with you on fair terms. Understand that the days of your international armed robbery are drawing to a close."

Jurors were also shown a video clip of Adebolajo speaking with blood on his hands, suggesting that the attack was "an eye for an eye".

Lee's mother Lyn, left the court in tears after hearing some of evidence

The video showed Adebolajo saying: "The only reason we've killed this man today is because Muslims are dying daily by British soldiers.

"This British soldier is one - he is an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."

Speaking into the camera with bloodied hands, he went on: "I apologise that women had to witness this today but in our lands our women have to see the same.

"You people will never be safe. Remove your governments - they don't care about you.

"Do you think David Cameron is going to get caught in the street, when we start busting our guns, do you think your politicians are going to die? No, it's going to be the average guy, like you and your children.

"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 death of the soldier triggered a massive police investigation

More video footage allegedly showed one of the men, Michael Adebolajo, in an Argos store, on the day before the attack - buying five knives. 

On the opening day of the trial, the Old Bailey was told how Mr Rigby was hit by the car from behind as he walked back to Woolwich Barracks, on May 22.

Mr Whittam told jurors that Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, drove the Tigra "straight at" him, at around 30mph to 40mph.

He said: "Both men then dragged his body into the middle of the road. They wanted members of the public to see the consequence of what can only be described as their barbarous acts.

"They had committed, you may think, a cowardly and callous murder by deliberately attacking an unarmed man in plain clothes from behind, using a vehicle as a weapon, and then they murdered him and mutilated his body with that meat cleaver and knives."

Adebolajo clutched a copy of the Koran in the dock as the jury was told how he tried to decapitate the soldier while Adebowale stabbed and cut him.

The soldier was dragged into the middle of the road before being attacked

Mr Whittam said: "They both attacked the motionless body of Lee Rigby.

"He was repeatedly stabbed and it appears it was Michael Adebolajo, the first defendant, who made a serious and almost successful attempt to decapitate Lee Rigby with multiple blows to his neck made with the meat cleaver."

Mr Whittam said one eyewitness, Amanda Bailey, saw the events from inside her Peugeot 206.

She saw the Tigra strike Fusilier Rigby and carry him until the car crashed into a road sign.

"The young man flew off the bonnet and landed about two feet in front of the car," Mr Whittam said.

"She (Bailey) saw that his eyes were open but they looked frozen."

Mr Whittam told the jury that members of the public showed "bravery and decency" in the aftermath of the alleged attack.

"Such heinous behaviour is in distinct contrast to the bravery and decency shown by some of the members of the public present.

Member of Lee Rigby's family arrive at court

"Despite the abhorrence of the scene, one woman went to the lifeless body of Lee Rigby and stroked him to provide some comfort and humanity to what had unfolded.

"Others went to see if they could provide first aid.

"Another woman engaged Michael Adebolajo in conversation despite the fact that he was still holding the meat cleaver and his hands were covered in blood."

The court heard that the two men were also armed with a gun.

Mr Whittam told the jury of eight women and four men that the firearm was part of the plan the pair had made.

It was used partly to frighten off members of the public before the emergency services arrived.

As a police vehicle swung into Artillery Place, both men moved towards it, Mr Whittam said, and Adebolajo raised the meat cleaver above his head.

Adebolajo and Adebowale are both accused of attempting to murder a police officer, and conspiracy to murder a police officer on or before May 22.

Armed officers shot both defendants and they were arrested, the court heard.

Mr Whittam said: "Lethal force can only be used where there is a real danger to life, as clearly there was here."

The events took place within yards of the Mulgrave Primary School, Mr Whittam said, to which children were returning from a visit to the library.

Members of the public turned them back to avoid the "awful" scene.

Young and old people, as well as a heavily pregnant woman, did witness what happened, he added.

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