Soldier Killer Sues Over Lost Smile
One of the men who brutally killed the Manchester soldier Lee Rigby is suing for compensation two years after his teeth were knocked out during an incident in the high security Belmarsh prison.
Michael Adebolajo was convicted last year alongside Michael Adebowale of murdering 22-year-old Fusilier Rigby near Woolwich barracksin May 2013.
While he was being held at Belmarsh prison after the killing, Adebolajo had his two front teeth knocked out and claimed he had been assaulted by five prison officers.
The officers were suspended from work after the incident but were later told they had no case to answer, with the Prison Officers' Association insisting that only approved restraint techniques had been used.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said it will robustly'' defend the compensation claim.
He said: A police investigation into this incident took place and no charges were brought against members of staff. The public will be rightly outraged at the thought of this man receiving compensation from the taxpayer and we robustly defend claims made against the Prison Service.''
The MoJ said it has successfully defended two thirds of prisoner claims over the last three years.
Adebolajo was condemned to die in prison with a whole-life jail term for the murder, while Adebowale was sentenced to life with a minimum 45 years.