Woolwich murder: Lee Rigby trial hears of 'cowardly, callous and barbarous' attack Drummer Lee Rigby, 25, was hit by a car and attacked with a knife and a meat cleaver as he walked back to Woolwich Barracks in south east London on May 22. The court heard that Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, drove the car at Fusilier Rigby before attempting to decapitate him in front of dozens of horrified witnesses the jury was told. The court heard that one witness described it as like a "butcher attacking a joint of meat." Shocked jurors were also shown CCTV footage of the incident prompting gasps in the oak-panelled Court Two of the Old Bailey. The relatives of the fusilier left the room in tears. Prosecutor Richard Whittam QC told jurors that Adebolajo had tried to decapitate the soldier while Adebowale stabbed and cut him. He said Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale drove a Vauxhall Tigra "straight at" Drummer Lee Rigby, at around 30mph to 40mph. He said: "Both men then dragged his body into the middle of the road. They wanted members of the public to see the consequence of what can only be described as their barbarous acts. They had committed, you may think, a cowardly and callous murder by deliberately attacking an unarmed man in plain clothes from behind, using a vehicle as a weapon, and then they murdered him and mutilated his body with that meat cleaver and knives. Mr Whittam said: "They both attacked the motionless body of Lee Rigby. He was repeatedly stabbed and it appears it was Michael Adebolajo, the first defendant, who made a serious and almost successful attempt to decapitate Lee Rigby with multiple blows to his neck made with the meat cleaver. At the same time as Michael Adebolajo used the meat cleaver, Michael Adebowale was using a knife to stab and cut at Lee Rigby's body. Fusilier Lee Rigby was killed outside Woolwich barracks Mr Whittam told the jury that members of the public showed "bravery and decency" in the aftermath of the alleged attack. Such heinous behaviour is in distinct contrast to the bravery and decency shown by some of the members of the public present. Despite the abhorrence of the scene, one woman went to the lifeless body of Lee Rigby and stroked him to provide some comfort and humanity to what had unfolded. Others went to see if they could provide first aid. Another woman engaged Michael Adebolajo in conversation despite the fact that he was still holding the meat cleaver and his hands were covered in blood. Mr Whittam added that it appeared Mr Adebolajo "made a serious and almost successful attempt to decapitate" Fusilier Rigby. Mr Whittam also told the court the defendants had been together for five hours before the attack and added "it was clear" there had been an agreement to attack the police when they arrived. He said: "It was a joint attack; Michael Adebolajo got very close indeed to the driver's side of the police vehicle and had he not been shot it is difficult to think that he would not have succeeded in killing a police officer." Both men are accused of murder as well as the attempted murder of a police officer and conspiracy to murder a police officer. Both deny all the charges.