Fusilier Rigby - Officer testifies

The officer, who was identified only as D49, says she feared for her life. “I thought 'Oh my God he's going to shoot me.”

11:55 04 December 2013

A police officer has testified in court in connection of Lee Rigby’s murder where she said she feared for her life. Identified only as D49, she said: “I thought 'Oh my God he's going to shoot me.”

The two suspects, 28-year-old Michael Adebolajo and 22-year-old Michael Adebowale, pleaded not guilty on all charges including murder and frustrated murder that took place in Woolwich, south-east London on May 22. However, compelling evidence was presented in court – a mobile phone footage of Mr Adebolajo telling the reasons why he killed the soldier.

Prosecutor Richard Whittam QC read the police officer's account to jurors, in which she said: "I saw a black male running at me waving both his hands in the air in a chopping motion. In his right hand I saw what I call a meat cleaver or a machete.

"I instantly thought 'he's going to kill me'. I went to draw my Glock. Due to my position in the car, the internal door has a panel jutting out, I could not immediately draw my Glock out due to this. It was a split second decision to draw my Taser.

"I could still see the look in the suspect's eyes. They were so wide and I could see the whites of them. He was shouting something."

Meanwhile, another officer, identified as E48 told the court about a man with a knife in the crime scene. He said: "He almost instantly broke into a sprint and I realised we were being attacked. We had very little time to deal with the threat.”

Also, a video footage was shown in court showing Mr Adebolajo as he was shot and fell to the ground. The video also shows the other suspect being shot.