Anjem Choudary officiated at marriage of Lee Rigby killer, court told

From the Telegraph

Anjem Choudary told a court he officiated the marriage of one of Lee Rigby’s killers.

The Islamist preacher is accused of directing Al-Muhajiroun (ALM), a banned international terror organisation, which spread a “warped and twisted view of religion” and proposed the creation of an Islamic caliphate.

Choudary, 57, made the revelation about Fusilier Rigby’s killer while he was giving evidence in his defence at Woolwich Crown Court.

He was asked why he had described the killing, filmed by members of the public outside Woolwich barracks in May 2013, as “famous” – to which he replied that it had put the area “on the map”.

Prosecuting, Tom Little KC asked: “Did you ever meet the killer?”

Choudary told the court: “I was there when he became Muslim. I officiated at his marriage. I believe then he stopped associating with anyone I know for years before Lee Rigby was killed”.

He later said “no” when asked by Paul Hynes KC, his barrister, if he had difficulty describing the killing as murder. “No, I don’t believe it was permissible to kill him and I said that at the time,” he told the court.

Choudary denies being a member of ALM and addressing meetings to encourage support for the group. . . The trial continues.