One of Lee Rigby’s extremist killers, Michael Adebolajo, has launched a £25,000 claim against the U.K Ministry of Justice, after complaining he lost two teeth when he was restrained by prison officers in HMP Belmarsh in July 2013.
During the first day of the hearing today, Mr Justice Langstaff said Adebolajo ‘forms relationships easily’ and has ‘a large group of people’ looking after him in prison.
Lawyers representing the Ministry of Justice said Abedolajo’s influence inside the jail is so significant that prison officers giving evidence at any trial could be in danger if their names emerged.
Fusilier Rigby, 25, died after being attacked near Woolwich Barracks in south-east London in May 2013. Mr Justice Langstaff said the incident at the centre of Adebolajo’s claim had occurred while he was awaiting trial for the killing. .
Five prison officers had been escorting Adebolajo, and physical force had been used to restrain him, holding him by the head and an arm. The judge said the use of physical force by prison officers had to be justified.
Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale were convicted of murder following a trial at the Old Bailey. The former was given a whole-life jail term, while the latter was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 45 years.
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