London: An inquest has heard dental records had to be used to identify drummer Lee Rigby, who was hacked to death near a British army barracks last week.
In a brief initial hearing in London, the Southwark Coroner's Court was told the 25-year-old had been walking back to the Woolwich barracks when a car crossed the road and hit him.
Two men who were inside the car then attacked him with a cleaver and a knife before dragging his body into the middle of the road.
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
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," the statement 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.
A post-mortem examination had already found that he died from multiple cut and stab wounds.
"On Wednesday May 22, at approximately 2.20pm (local time), Lee was returning to barracks after a day working at the Tower of London," detective chief inspector Grant Mallon said during 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."
Detective chief inspector Mallon, from Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command, said the soldier suffered "extensive and serious injuries" and investigations were continuing into those responsible.
The 25-year-old had to be identified by a dental expert, the court heard.
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.
Shortly after the start of the inquest, Queen Elizabeth met with some of the soldier's former colleagues, in a trip arranged before Rigby's death.
She has spoken privately with those who coordinated the barrack's response to the alleged terror attack. |
