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Trial starts for two men accused of fatally stabbing British soldier

Two men accused of hacking to death Drummer Lee Rigby in broad daylight on a London street go on trial this week.
Two men accused of hacking to death Drummer Lee Rigby in broad daylight on a London street go on trial this week.Ministry of Defence via EPA

LONDON -- Two men accused of hacking to death a British soldier in broad daylight on a London street go on trial this week in a case that has shocked many in Britain. 

Drummer Lee Rigby, 25, a veteran of the Afghan war, was killed on May 22 not far from an army barracks in Woolwich, southeast London, a murder that provoked disgust. 

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as "multiple incised wounds." 

Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22 deny murdering Rigby, conspiracy to murder a police officer and the attempted murder of a police officer. 

Monday's session at will at London's Old Bailey central criminal court is due to be taken up by legal argument and the swearing in of the 12-member jury with the pair unlikely to be called until at least Tuesday. 

Both suspects have used their Islamic names - Mujahid Abu Hamza for Adebolajo and Ismail Ibn Abdullah for Adebowale - during pre-trial hearings. 

Thousands of people including veterans in uniform lined the street of Rigby's home town of Bury in northern England for his funeral in July. British Prime Minister David Cameron and London mayor Boris Johnson joined the mourners for the service. 

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