Drummer Lee Rigby murder trial: Suspects Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale deny Woolwich killing

Suspects appeared in court via videolink from prison

Two men denied killing Lee Rigby (PA)

Two men have denied murdering the soldier Lee Rigby in an attack outside his barracks and will go on trial in November at the Old Bailey.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, did not attend the court in person but appeared via video link from separate rooms at the top-security Belmarsh Prison. The pair both denied murdering Drummer Rigby, whose widow Rebecca was in court for the hearing, as he returned to the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, south-east London on 22 May this year.

Mr Adebolajo, who has asked to be called Mujahid Abu Hamza, and Mr Adebowale, who wants to be known as Ismail Ibn Abdullah, also both pleaded not guilty to attempted murder of a police officer on 22 May. They also denied conspiring to murder a police office on or before that date.

The soldier, who has a two-year-old son Jack, was returning to the barracks when he was attacked, and died from multiple cut and stab wounds. David Cameron and thousands of mourners attended the funeral of the 25-year-old from Middleton, Greater Manchester, in July.

Mr Adebolajo, from Romford in Essex, and Mr Adebowale, from Greenwich, south-east London, both wore red T-shirts and pale trousers for the hearing, while Mr Adebolajo’s arm was also in a brace.

Mr Justice Sweeney adjourned the case and set the trial date for 18 November.