Accused killer of British soldier tells London court he's also soldier
One of the men charged with the murder of British soldier Lee Rigby in London last month made a rambling appearance at the Old Bailey central criminal court in London, declaring he was also "a soldier" and complaining about being repeatedly strip-searched.
Michael Adebolajo, now listed on court documents as Mujaahid Abu Hamza, made a series of outbursts during the bail hearing on Wednesday in which his defence team successfully made a rare application for all court reporting restrictions to be lifted.
The 28-year-old from Romford, Essex, admonished the judge, telling him to "stop trying to stifle the truth", but he later asked God to bless the judge.
Appearing via videolink from Belmarsh prison, Adebolajo was flanked by two police officers.
He is charged with murdering Drummer Rigby, 25, near Woolwich barracks, plus further charges connected with the attempted murder of two police and the possession of a firearm.
As the court discussed whether Adebolajo should appear in handcuffs, he interrupted his barrister, David Gottlieb QC, to say: "I don't want to lie. Allah loves those who are truthful … I did resist the [prison] guards not physically but verbally. They requested to see my testicles and penis yet again, when I only just come from the prison van to this [custody] suite today. I am a man, I am a soldier, I am a British citizen … I'm not used to people looking at my privates like this."
Bail was not sought and Adebolajo remains in custody.
