UK soldier murder trial set for Nov 18
From: AAP June 29, 2013 12:35AM
THE trial of the two men accused of butchering a British soldier in a London street in a suspected Islamist attack will begin on November 18.
The trial date was set on Friday as suspects Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, appeared at London's Old Bailey court via videolink from their cells at the city's maximum-security Belmarsh prison.
Both suspects are Muslim converts who were raised in Britain by Nigerian Christian parents.
Soldier Lee Rigby, 25, was hacked to death in broad daylight near his barracks in Woolwich, southeast London, on May 22.
In the videolink, Adebolajo appeared to still have his left arm in a bandage after he and Adebowale were shot by police at the murder scene.
Both men were flanked by two prison officers as they appeared on the screen.
Adebolajo has asked to be referred to as Mujaahid Abu Hamza in court proceedings.
The pair spoke only to confirm their names during the 20-minute hearing, and were remanded in custody to appear for a plea and case management hearing at the same court on September 27.
Adebolajo is further charged with the attempted murder of two police officers, and both men are charged with possession of a firearm.
