/Lee Rigby killer Michael Adebowale, 29, ‘is on oxygen in hospital after contracting coronavirus’ | Daily Mail Online

Lee Rigby killer Michael Adebowale, 29, ‘is on oxygen in hospital after contracting coronavirus’ | Daily Mail Online

The killer of soldier Lee Rigby is on oxygen in hospital after contracting coronavirus while serving his sentence at Broadmoor, according to reports.

Michael Adebowale, 29, has reportedly been taken from the high-security psychiatric hospital in Crowthorne, Berkshire, to a Covid ward after his condition went ‘rapidly downhill’.

It is the second time in recent days that the killer has been admitted to hospital with the virus, according to the Sun.

A source told the paper: ‘He’s in a very bad way and fighting for every breath.

‘It’s reached the stage where it’s a 24/7 battle. If he deteriorates much further, intensive care would be the next step.’ 

Michael Adebowale (pictured), the killer of soldier Lee Rigby, is on oxygen in hospital after contracting coronavirus while serving his sentence in Broadmoor, according to reports

The 29-year-old has reportedly been taken from the high-security psychiatric hospital (pictured) in Crowthorne, Berkshire, to a Covid ward after his condition went ‘rapidly downhill’

Adebowale, who is said to have tested positive for Covid two weeks ago, is not on a ventilator but is receiving oxygen treatment, the paper reports. 

The Sun also quoted the mother of Lee Rigby, Lyn, 53, who said it would ‘not be just for Covid to take this man (Adebowale) prematurely and end the sentence handed to him’. 

Adebowale and his accomplice Michael Adebolajo ran over 25-year-old fusilier Mr Rigby close to Woolwich barracks, London, in May 2013 before stabbing him to death in broad daylight. 

The father of one died as a result of multiple cut and stab wounds after the attack, fuelled by Adebowale and Adebolajo’s extremist beliefs – described as a ‘betrayal of Islam’ at their murder trial in 2014.

Adebowale, who was given a 45-year minimum term for the murder of Mr Rigby, has spent three periods in Broadmoor since his conviction. 

He is expected to spend the next ‘five or ten years’ in the hospital, where he will be treated for paranoid schizophrenia.

Adebowale and his accomplice Michael Adebolajo ran over 25-year-old fusilier Lee Rigby (pictured) close to Woolwich barracks in May 2013 before stabbing him to death in broad daylight

Adebolajo meanwhile was given a whole life term for the killing. He is serving his sentence at HMP Woodhill, near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

In October last year, Adebowale pleaded guilty to punching a healthcare assistant while being held in Broadmoor. The incident took place July 20 last year. 

After denying a more serious charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm, Adebowale admitted an alternative charge of assault causing actual bodily harm at Reading Crown Court in October.

Adebowale, who has changed his name by deed poll to Ismaail Kuti, was given a eight-month prison sentence by Mr Justice Jay.

Killer Michael Adebolajo was given a whole life term for Lee Rigby’s murder. He is serving his sentence at HMP Woodhill, near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

This will be served after his 45-year minimum term for murder.

Adebowale had earlier made a bid to serve out the rest of his sentence in a Nigerian jail with a VIP wing.   

The killer, who was born in the UK to protestant Nigerian parents before converting to Islam, was reportedly seeking a prisoner-swap deal to Lagos’ Kirikiri jail.

According to the Sun in April last year, he had written to immigration experts asking for advice.

Mr Rigby’s mother Lynn reacted to the news at the time, branding it an insult to her son. 

According to reports at the time, his chances seemed destined to fail as he was not born in Nigeria.

In December last year it was reported that Mr Rigby’s other killer, Adebolajo, is telling other extremist prisoners at HMP Woodhill that he made a ‘drastic mistake’ and is encouraging them to ‘shun terrorism’. 

Adebolajo, who was born in London to a Christian family before converting to Islam, is said to be part of a de-radicalisation programme and reportedly renounced extremism last year.

He is said to have apologised to Mr Rigby’s family, claiming that he was ‘brainwashed’ and ‘misinterpreted the Koran’.

Lee Rigby killer Michael Adebowale, 29, ‘is on oxygen in hospital after contracting coronavirus’

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