Islamist extremist Michael Adebolajo lost his appeal against his murder conviction in less than a minute earlier today.
Adebolajo, who was convicted of killing soldier Lee Rigby as he walked down a London street, tried to claim that he should have his conviction dropped because he was a ‘soldier of Allah’ who was ‘at war’ with Britain.
The 29-year-old ran down Fusilier Rigby in Woolwich, South East London last year before hacking him to death. He and accomplice Michael Adebowale were sentenced to life imprisonment for the killing, with both showing no remorse.
The Daily Mail reports, however, three judges at the Court of Appeal today spent just 45 seconds explaining why they would not hear his appeal.
Adebolajo’s legal team had argued that the judge who originally sentenced him, Mr Justice Sweeney, had misdirected the jury regarding the legal grounds surrounding his motives.
Barrister David Gottlieb said: “He has claimed that the reason he killed Fusilier Rigby was solely because he was a serving soldier,” said the barrister.
“He said he killed a soldier in the course of fighting a war and had no intention of harming anyone else.
“It was part of his plan, he said, that after the killing he would wait at the scene until armed response unit arrived with the intention of being killed himself in what he described as an act of martyrdom.”
But the Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas, Lady Justice Hallett and Mr Justice Openshaw rejected the claim in less than a minute.
Adebolajo is also appealing his sentence on the grounds that it is too long and “not just and proportionate in the circumstances of the case”. Adebowale is also appealing his sentence on similar grounds.
The men are reported to have received £212,000 in legal aid before today’s court hearing.
The case continues.
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