One of Lee Rigby's killers has been given the right to appeal
against his life sentence due to mental health problems.
Michael Adebowale, 22, was given a 45-year minimum term for
murdering the soldier in Woolwich last year in an attack which shocked Britain.
It was confirmed this morning that the 22-year-old will now
be allowed to appeal against his punishment after he was transferred to
Broadmoor Hospital.
Adebowale was jailed alongside Michael Adebolajo, 29, in
February after the pair ran over Fusilier Lee Rigby in a car before attacking
him with knives and a meat cleaver.
Adebolajo was given a whole-life sentence, meaning he will
never be released from prison.
Adebowale had been serving the first months of his prison
term at Belmarsh high-security prison in south-east London.
But he was moved to a mental health unit at Broadmoor two
weeks ago after reportedly 'hearing voices' and suffering 'psychotic episodes'.
It emerged this morning that, because of his mental health,
he will now be able to appeal against his sentence in a bid to win an early
release.
After being told of Adebowale's prison transfer on what would
have been the day after Drummer Rigby's 27th birthday, his family have branded
the latest decision 'a joke'
His mother, Lyn, told The Sun the protracted legal case meant
the 'heartache never stops' for her and makes it 'impossible' to grieve.
A judicial spokesman today confirmed the appeal would go
ahead, but said a date for the hearing at London's Royal Courts of Justice has
not yet been arranged.
Father-of-one Lee Rigby was just 25 when he was brutally
murdered as he walked back to his barracks in Woolwich on May 22 last year.
Sentencing Adebowale and Adebolajo after their trial, Mr
Justice Sweeney said:
He said the pair created 'a bloodbath', adding: 'You both
gloried in what you had done.'
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