Inquest to open as soldier’s fiancee speaks of her loss

The fiancee of murdered soldier Lee Rigby said last night that she was “devastated” by his loss and has been moved by all the tributes to a “great man”.

A week to the day after the killing, Aimee West released a short statement through Scotland Yard to say: “I am devastated by the loss of Lee who was a loving fiance.

“I am extremely proud of him and I am moved by all the flowers and tributes, and that he has been remembered by the nation as the great man that he was. I ask that mine and my family’s privacy is respected during this difficult time”.

Piles of floral tributes have been left near where Drummer Rigby was hacked to death in Woolwich, south east London, last week.

Earlier, detectives investigating Drummer Rigby’s murder issued a new appeal for information at the scene as it was confirmed that the soldier died from multiple stab wounds.

An autopsy shows that Drummer Rigby died from multiple cuts and stab wounds after he was hit by a car, police said.

The 25-year-old was first struck by a blue car and then stabbed by two men near his barracks in southeast London’s Woolwich district, police said.

Images that emerged in the attack’s aftermath showed two men wielding bloody knives and meat cleavers. Police said the autopsy showed Rigby died from “multiple incised wounds.”

Both prime suspects were shot and wounded by police at the scene. Suspect Michael Adebolajo, 28, remains hospitalised in stable condition while Michael Adebowale, 22, was discharged from hospital on Tuesday and is in police custody.

A total of 10 people have been arrested in the case, including the two main suspects. Two people were released and several others have been freed on bail pending further inquiries. No charges have yet been filed.

With the cause of death established, police said an inquest on Drummer Rigby’s death will open tomorrow at Southwark Coroner’s Court.

London counter-terrorism police officers handed out leaflets yesterday seeking information from pedestrians and bus passengers in a quest for new information on the slaying that shocked Britain.

The killing has raised racial enmities, with far-right groups such as the English Defence League mobilising to protest.

Activists calling themselves Anonymous UK have posted on the web what they say are personal details of members of the EDL.

Anonymous UK posted what it described as a “mass data leak” including names, mobile telephone numbers and addresses of EDL members and donors, as well as what purported to be details about past convictions of some of those listed.