British soldier Lee Rigby's murderers sentenced to decades in prison

British soldier Lee Rigby's murderers sentenced to decades in prison
By Euronews
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Two men who mowed down a British soldier before hacking him to death on a London street have been sentenced to decades in prison.

In December the pair were found guilty of murdering 25-year-old Afghan war veteran Lee Rigby outside Woolwich Barracks in south-east London.

Adebolajo, 29, was handed a whole-life term, while Adebowale, 22, was sentenced to a minimum of 45 years in jail.

They were sentenced in their absence after being dragged down to the cells for brawling with security guards in the dock as the judge opened his sentencing remarks.

The attack horrified Britain. Footage of the aftermath of the attack – which saw one of the attackers, holding what appeared to be a meat cleaver in his blood-stained hands, trying to justify the murder – was broadcast on news channels and online.

The trial heard Adebolajo and Adebowale, both born in London, drove a car into Fusilier Rigby, before dragging him into the road and attacking him with knives. They then attempted to cut his head off with a meat cleaver.

(with agencies)

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