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Michael Adebolajo appears in court for Woolwich murder Michael Adebolajo appears in court charged with Woolwich murder
(about 11 hours later)
A suspect in the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby, Michael Adebolajo, has been remanded in custody for 48 hours after appearing at Westminster magistrates court. Michael Adebolajo appeared in court for the first time on Monday accused of the murder of soldier Lee Rigby.
In a dramatic court appearance, the 28-year-old instructed the court to address him as Mujahid Abu Hamza. The 28-year-old, with a plaster cast on his left arm, interrupted the short hearing at Westminster magistrates court a number of times and instructed the court to address him as Mujahid Abu Hamza.
Fellow suspect Michael Adebowale, 22, appeared separately at the Old Bailey on Monday morning. He waved to a supporter in the public gallery and repeatedly kissed a book which appeared to be the Qur'an.
With a plastic cast on his left arm an animated Adebolajo, defended by barrister David Gottlieb, refused to stand in the dock. Adebolajo refused to stand in the dock. As he was asked to stand, he said: "May I ask why? May I ask why?" When told it was customary to stand, he said: "I want to sit."
As he was asked to stand, Adebolajo said: "May I ask why? May I ask why?" Adebolajo is charged with the murder of Lee Rigby, 25, a soldier with the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in Woolwich, south-east London, on 22 May; the attempted murder of two police officers; and possession of a 9.4mm Dutch calibre KNIL Model 91 revolver, with intent to cause others to believe that violence would be used.
When told it was customary to stand, he said: "I want to sit." Adebolajo told the presiding magistrate, Emma Arbuthnot, that he had not heard that version of the charges and would not confirm them. "I'm not sure I've heard those specific charges," he said.
Adebolajo did not initially confirm he had heard the charges: of the murder of soldier Lee Rigby, attempted murder of two police officers and possession of a 9.4mm Dutch calibre KNIL Model 91 revolver, with intent to cause others to believe that violence would be used. Adebolajo, of no fixed address, was told by Arbuthnot that he did not have to reply to the charges. "This is the normal procedure, you don't need to reply … you don't actually respond," she said.
Wearing a white T-shirt and holding and periodically kissing a book which appeared to be the Qur'an, Adebolajo's speech sounded slightly slurred, and he often tilted his head and waved to a smartly dressed friend in the public gallery who offered prayers. Wearing a white T-shirt, his speech sounding slightly slurred, he often tilted his head and waved to a smartly dressed person in the public gallery who offered prayers.
He told the presiding magistrate, deputy chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot, that he had not heard that version of the charges and would not confirm them. He was remanded in custody for 48 hours.
"I'm not sure I've heard those specific charges," he said. He was charged on Saturday after being released from the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel, east London, where he was treated after being injured during his arrest almost two weeks ago.
Adebolajo, of no fixed abode, was told by Arbuthnot that he did not have to reply to the charges. "This is the normal procedure, you don't need to reply … you don't actually respond," she said. Michael Adebowale, 22, appeared at the Old Bailey via videolink from Belmarsh prison, in Plumstead, south-east London, charged with the murder of Rigby and possessing a firearm with intent to cause others to believe that violence would be used.
He later said: "I'm only a man. I'd like to alleviate the pain if I may." He then kissed the hardback book he was holding. Wearing a green, white and yellow tracksuit top, Adebowale, 22, of Greenwich, south-east London, spoke only to confirm his name and address. He was remanded in custody until 28 June, when he will appear for a hearing to determine a trial timetable.
Adebolajo was charged by police on Saturday after being released from the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel, east London, where he was treated after being injured during his arrest almost two weeks ago.
He is due to appear at the Old Bailey within the next two days for a further hearing.
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