Sentence due for 2 guilty of UK soldier murder


Save Story

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

LONDON (AP) — Sentencing is underway for two al-Qaida-inspired extremists convicted of murdering an off-duty British soldier who was stabbed to death in a frenzied attack on a London street.

Self-described "soldier of Allah" Michael Adebolajo and accomplice Michael Adebowale were convicted in December of murdering 25-year-old Fusilier Lee Rigby, who was struck by a car and then repeatedly stabbed with knives and a cleaver in front of horrified passers-by.

The May 22 attack shocked Britain and inflamed fears of Islamic extremist terrorism in the country.

The pair appeared in the dock Wednesday as prosecutors and defense lawyers made final comments.

In his testimony, the 29-year-old Adebolajo told the court that he and 22-year-old Adebowale had decided to kill a British soldier as revenge for attacks on Muslims abroad.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Most recent World stories

Related topics

The Associated Press
    KSL.com Beyond Business
    KSL.com Beyond Series

    KSL Weather Forecast

    KSL Weather Forecast
    Play button