Alleged killer of Lee Rigby had ‘look of evil’, court hears

Jurors at the Old Bailey heard graphic eyewitness accounts including James Henegan and Cheralee Armstrong, who feared they may be shot when one of the men pointed a gun at them.

The widow of Lee Rigby left court, where Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale are facing charges of murder, as jurors were told how he was run over then attacked with knives.

Statements were read out in court by prosecutor Richard Whittam QC from members of the public who witnessed the fusilier’s alleged murder beside Woolwich barracks on 22 May.

‘Pure evil’

Eyewitness Saraj Miah, who is seen on a CCTV clip speaking to a local shopkeeper near the scene, said after Lee Rigby was run over two armed men got out of the car.

The attackers are said to have pointed a gun at him when he told them not to kill the soldier.

A statement from Cheralee Armstrong was read; “The man in the hat stared at me, his expression was blank. Pure evil, and his eyes were bulging.”

“I thought that the two black men with knives were going to kill him. I told them not to kill him. They did not listen to me,” he said.

The court heard that one attacker slashed Fusilier Rigby’s throat while the other stabbed him.

It made me feel very sad. I was very frightened and very scared at the time
Ibrahim Elidemir

“The black man in the passenger seat with knives in both his hands stabbed the fallen man six times in his chest.”

He then described the man who had been driving the car as walking around “as if nothing had happened”.

Mr Miah said the two men then “threw the body on the left lane of the road”.

“I was very shocked by the incident…I could not sleep for two weeks.”

Fusilier Rigby’s widow Rebecca left the court in tears as the statements were read out.

The court heard how shopkeeper Ibrahim Elidemir shut himself, his girlfriend and two customers inside the store when he saw an attacker brandishing a knife after the crash.

In his statement, he said: “The incident has affected me very badly. It made me feel very sad. I was very frightened and very scared at the time.”

‘Coming from college’

Another statement was also read by Mr Whittam from witness Amanda Bailey, who described her shock at seeing the attack on what looked like “a young man coming home from college”.

She said: “The car sped up and went straight towards the young man. He didn’t seem to mind the car or notice at all.

“I could see that his eyes were still open but they looked frozen. He wasn’t moving or making any noise.”

Ms Bailey described one of the men trying to decapitate Fusilier Rigby.

“He was determined and he wasn’t going to stop. He didn’t care. It was broad daylight and this man didn’t care.”