A British Muslim couple have been jailed for glorifying the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in videos posted on YouTube. Royal Barnes, 23, and his wife Rebekah Dawson, 22, both British Muslims, uploaded three videos praising the murder and mocking mourners.
Barnes was jailed for five years and four months, while Dawson – who insisted on wearing a full face veil in court – received a sentence of 20 months.
Barnes pleaded guilty last month to three charges of disseminating a terrorist publication and one of incitement to murder. His wife also admitted disseminating a terrorist publication.
In one of the YouTube videos, Barnes can be seen praising the murder of Lee Rigby as a “glorious day”. Another video shows him and his wife driving past floral tributes and laughing uncontrollably.
On 12 June 2013 Barnes also posted on Facebook an offer for a reward following the rape of an Iraqi girl: “Any1 who kills an invading soldier in Muslim land I will give them a Vauxhall Astra 3door and money (French British American any kaffir soldier take ur pick).”
Michael Adebowale, an associate of Barnes, was jailed for life last month, along with Michael Adebolajo, for the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby, who they hacked to death outside his barracks in Woolwich.