One of the terrorist killers of Lee Rigby has “helped convert prisoners to Islam” a senior judge, who said it will be a “great pity” if he is not given taxpayers’ cash to sue the government, has been told.
Michael Adebolajo’s influence behind bars was revealed as he takes legal action against the Ministry of Justice, with him being described as “charismatic,” the Press Association reports.
He is demanding compensation after claiming prison officers injured him during an incident in a cell, and according to Court News, Mr. Justice Langstaff said it would be a “great pity” if he were not given expensive legal aid.
The incident occurred as he was awaiting trial in 2013. The terrorist had to be restrained, lost two front teeth, and the judge insisted the force used needed to be justified.
The terrorist has reportedly “built a network of [Islamic State] fanatics in prison who may seek revenge against prison guards who restrained him”.
Lawyers representing the Ministry of Justice said prison officers likely to give evidence at any trial could be in danger if their names emerged and the judge insisted they were not identified in media reports. A trial was likely to be some time away, he added.
Fusilier Rigby, 25, died near Woolwich Barracks in southeast London in May 2013. He was rammed by a car and near-beheaded as his killers quoted the Quran.
Mr. Adebolajo is serving a whole-life sentence for murder and his accomplice, Michael Adebowale, is serving 45 years for the same crime.
The judge said Mr. Adebolajo, who was not at Tuesday’s hearing, “forms relationships easily” in jail. Adding:
“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.”