Lee Rigby killer could appeal sentence

15 July 2014, 19:13

One of the Islamic fanatics who murdered soldier Lee Rigby has been given permission to appeal against his sentence.

Michael Adebowale was convicted of mowing the young soldier down and hacking him to death in a brutal attack staged with fellow extremist Michael Adebolajo on May 22 last year.

A spokesman for the judiciary confirmed today that Adebowale was given permission to appeal against the sentence yesterday by a High Court judge.

A full appeal hearing in front of three judges will take place at a later date.

Adebowale, 23, was given a life sentence with a minimum of 45 years for his role in the slaying by Mr Justice Sweeney at the Old Bailey in February.

He was spared a whole life term, although one was given to his accomplice Adebolajo, 29, because of his age and lesser role in the deadly attack. Adebolajo launched an appeal against his whole life term in April.

The pair showed no remorse for their actions throughout their Old Bailey trial, and erupted with rage during their sentencing hearing, causing security guards to bundle them down to the cells as Fusilier Rigby's heartbroken relatives looked on.

The British-born extremists mowed Fusilier Rigby down in a car before hacking him to death in the street in front of horrified onlookers near Woolwich Barracks in south east London in May last year.

They both claimed that they were ''soldiers of Allah'' and were motivated by the plight of Muslims abroad to carry out the killing