LONDON, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- The trial of two men accused of killing British soldier Lee Rigby in May began in London Friday with a prosecutor's explanation of the brutal crime.
Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, denied charges of murder, conspiracy to murder and attempted murder of a police officer in the Old Bailey court.
Rigby, 25, trained as a military drummer and artilleryman, was killed outside London's Woolrich Barracks in May.
Prosecutor Richard Whittam said the two suspects struck Rigby with their car, then carried his unconscious body from the sidewalk to the middle of the road and stabbed it with knives and a meat cleaver, nearly decapitating him.
Adebowale aimed an unloaded gun at responding police, and he and Adebolajo were both shot and detained, Whittam explained, adding the suspects waited for police to reach the scene, having conspired to attack a police officer.
Friends and family members of Rigby were in court for the start of the trial, some of whom left crying after images of the soldier, before the attack, were shown, CNN reported.
