UK soldier's killers sentenced

Two men convicted of killing a British soldier on a London street last year were sentenced Wednesday, one to life in prison and the other to a minimum of 45 years.In a brutal attack recorded on closed-circuit TV and by bystanders, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale hit soldier Lee Rigby with a car then hacked him to death with a meat cleaverand knives in May 2013.The Islamic converts, through testimony or their lawyers' arguments in court, indicated they killed Rigby for Allah. Cellphone footage replayed at thetrial showed Adebolajo, still clutching a cleaver inhis bloody hands, ranting that the killing was "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" for British soldiers killing Muslims overseas.They were convicted of murder in December. Adebolajo will spend life in prison. Adebowale received a sentence of at least 45 years.Rigby, who had served in Afghanistan and was off duty when he was killed at the age of 25, left behind a wife and a young son.The prosecution had asked for the maximum possible sentence: life imprisonment without parole.But defense lawyers argued Wednesday for leniency. Barrister David Gottlieb told the court that the victim was chosen because he was a member of the armed forces and that no one elsewas hurt in the attack.Prosecutor Sue Hemming said the pair "reveled in one of the most appalling terrorist murders I have ever seen.""Not only was the attack brutal and calculated, it was also designed to advance extremist views," she said in a prepared statement. "As a solider, Fusilier Lee Rigby was targeted in a clear act of revenge, deliberately carried out in full view of members of the public for maximum impact."Family members attended court Wednesday to hear the sentences handed down.