THE killers of soldier Lee Rigby received more than £200,000 in taxpayer-funded financial support to pay their legal bills.
Fusilier Rigby, 25, was mowed down with a car and then hacked to death by British Muslim converts Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale in Woolwich, London, on May 22 last year.
It has now been revealed the extremists received a combined £212,613.32 in legal aid to cover solicitors and advocates fees and other disbursements.
The figures emerged as Adebolajo. 29, lost the first stage of his bid to challenge his conviction and sentence.
The Judicial Office confirmed permission to appeal was refused by a judge who considered the case on the papers, but that Adebolajo has renewed both applications. This means his applications will now be aired before a panel of Court Of Appeal judges at a hearing in London.
Adebolajo, who was sentenced in February to a whole-life term, meaning he will die behind bars, received £138,803.96 in legal aid.
Adebowale, 23, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 45 years, received £73,809.36. He has been given the go-ahead to challenge his sentence before Court of Appeal judges.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of Adebowale's appeal bid or the renewed applications by Adebolajo.
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