The inquest in the brutal murder of Lee Rigby on May 22 in Woolwich, southeast London, was opened at Southwark Coroner’s Court in the capital before being adjourned.
Later Friday, Queen Elizabeth II was to visit the barracks in Woolwich where Rigby was based, in a trip arranged before his death.
None of Rigby’s family attended the opening of the inquest, but they issued a statement calling for calm following a rise in community tensions after his death.
“Lee would not want people to use his name as an excuse to carry out attacks against others,” they said.
“We would not wish any other families to go through this harrowing experience and appeal to everyone to keep calm and show their respect in a peaceful manner.”
In a brief hearing, the coroner’s court heard the soldier, who was a recruiting officer, was killed as he returned home after a day working at the Tower of London, his regimental headquarters.
The 25-year-old had to be identified by a dental expert, the court heard. A post-mortem examination had already found that he died from multiple cut and stab wounds.
“On Wednesday May 22, at approximately 2.20 pm, Lee was returning to barracks after a day working at the Tower of London,” Detective Chief Inspector Grant Mallon told the hearing.
“As he walked into Artillery Place (a road in Woolwich), a vehicle is seen to swerve into the carriageway on which he was walking and strike him.
“The two occupants of the vehicle then exit the vehicle and attack him with a cleaver and a knife.”
Mallon, from Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command, said the soldier suffered “extensive and serious injuries” and investigations were continuing into those responsible.
Security at the court was beefed up for the inquest, which will seek to establish the circumstances of Rigby’s death without apportioning blame. It was adjourned to a date yet to be confirmed.
One man, Michael Adebowale, 22, has appeared in court charged with the soldier’s murder and another, Michael Adebolajo, 28, remains under arrest in hospital. Both men were shot by police at the scene.
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My condolence goes out to his family and the people of Britain. Its quite a pathetic story.
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