This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/31/lee-rigbys-killer-has-converted-inmates-to-islam-court-told
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Lee Rigby's killer has converted inmates to Islam, court told | Lee Rigby's killer has converted inmates to Islam, court told |
| (3 months later) | |
| Michael Adebolajo, who is taking legal action claiming he was injured in cell, is ‘looked up to’ by prisoners, judge hears | |
| Press Association | |
| Tue 31 Oct 2017 12.04 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| A Muslim extremist jailed for life after being convicted of the murder of soldier Lee Rigby is looked up to by fellow prisoners, a high court judge has been told. | A Muslim extremist jailed for life after being convicted of the murder of soldier Lee Rigby is looked up to by fellow prisoners, a high court judge has been told. |
| Michael Adebolajo was “charismatic”, and intelligence suggested that he had helped convert other inmates to Islam, Mr Justice Langstaff heard. | Michael Adebolajo was “charismatic”, and intelligence suggested that he had helped convert other inmates to Islam, Mr Justice Langstaff heard. |
| Detail of the influence Adebolajo wielded in jail has emerged after he took legal action against the Ministry of Justice. | Detail of the influence Adebolajo wielded in jail has emerged after he took legal action against the Ministry of Justice. |
| Adebolajo claims that he was injured by prison officers during an incident in a cell and wants compensation. | Adebolajo claims that he was injured by prison officers during an incident in a cell and wants compensation. |
| 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. | 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. | Fusilier Rigby, 25, died after being attacked near Woolwich Barracks in south-east London in May 2013. |
| Adebolajo, who is in his early 30s, and Michael Adebowale, who is in his mid-20s, were convicted of murder following a trial at the Old Bailey. Adebolajo was given a whole-life jail term and Adebowale was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 45 years. | Adebolajo, who is in his early 30s, and Michael Adebowale, who is in his mid-20s, were convicted of murder following a trial at the Old Bailey. Adebolajo was given a whole-life jail term and Adebowale was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 45 years. |
| Jurors heard that they mowed down Rigby in a car before hacking him to death. | Jurors heard that they mowed down Rigby in a car before hacking him to death. |
| Langstaff said Adebolajo, who was not at Tuesday’s hearing, had complained about an incident in a cell while on remand in July 2013. | Langstaff said Adebolajo, who was not at Tuesday’s hearing, had complained about an incident in a cell while on remand in July 2013. |
| Lawyers representing the MoJ said prison officers likely to give evidence at any trial could be in danger if their names emerged in media reports. | Lawyers representing the MoJ said prison officers likely to give evidence at any trial could be in danger if their names emerged in media reports. |
| They gave the judge detail of the influence Adebolajo had in prison. “He forms relationships easily,” said the judge. | 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. | “He is charismatic. There is intelligence suggesting that 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.” | “There is a large group of people who look up to Adebolajo.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| The judge said the use of physical force by prison officers had to be justified. MoJ lawyers told the judge that prison officers were “deeply unhappy” about being involved in legal proceedings. | The judge said the use of physical force by prison officers had to be justified. MoJ lawyers told the judge that prison officers were “deeply unhappy” about being involved in legal proceedings. |
| The hearing continues. | The hearing continues. |
| UK news | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |