UK-Based Nigerians Who Murdered British Soldier Loses Appeal On Life Sentence

London-Based Nigerian, Michael Adebolajo, who is one of the killers of British soldier, Lee Rigby has had an appeal against his murder conviction thrown out in just 45 seconds today. Members of the soldier's family, including his widow Rebecca Rigby, the mother of his son Jack, were at the High Court to see Michael Adebolajo's application rejected by judges. Adebolajo, 29, ran down the 25-year-old soldier in Woolwich south-east London in May last year before murdering him with accomplice Michael Adebowale, 23.

Both had denied murder because they were 'soldiers of Allah' but were found guilty at the Old Bailey last December. Adebolajo's legal team today claimed he should have his conviction quashed because he was 'at war' with Britain, before demanding his whole life sentence is also quashed.

His application for leave to appeal was rejected by Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas, sitting at the Court of Appeal in London with Lady Justice Hallett and Mr Justice Openshaw. They spent less than a minute explaining why they would not agree to it, and later called the argument 'hopelessly misconceived'.

Michael Adebowale, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 45 years. The British-born Muslim converts ran 25-year-old Fusilier Rigby down in a car before hacking him to death with a meat cleaver and knives in a frenzied attack in Woolwich, south London. They dumped the body of the father-of-one in the middle of the road near Woolwich Barracks in south east London on May 22 last year.

Adebolajo and Adebowale lay in wait near the barracks and picked Fusilier Rigby to kill after assuming he was a soldier because he was wearing a Help for Heroes hooded top and carrying a camouflage rucksack. After driving into him, the killers butchered him in the street in broad daylight in front of horrified onlookers.

Both men were shot by police in dramatic scenes captured by CCTV. They claimed they were 'soldiers of Allah' and were motivated by the plight of Muslims abroad to carry out the killing.Both were convicted of murder at the Old Bailey and sentenced in February.

Source: Dailymail UK