AN ARMED police officer feared for her life as one of Lee Rigby's alleged killers ran at her waving a machete while another pointed a gun, a court heard.

The two suspects were fired at by officers from the specialist firearms command after they were called to the incident at Artillery Place on May 22.

Michael Adebolajo, aged 28, of Oakwood Close, Hither Green, and Michael Adebowale, aged 22, of Thames Street, Greenwich, are charged with murdering the fusilier as he walked back to Woolwich Barracks.

An Old Bailey jury heard how the defendants had dragged the body of Mr Rigby into the road before talking to passers-by, looking “proud” of what they had done and posing for pictures.

In a statement read out to the court, officer D49 who drove the armed police car to the scene, said: "I saw a black man running at me waving both his hands in a chopping motion. In his right hand was what I’d call a machete or meat cleaver.

"I instantly thought 'he is going to kill me.'

"I could still see the look in the suspect's eye. They were so wide, I could see the whites in it."

She says she drew her taser and heard shots fired by officer E48 before seeing suspect two with a gun pointing at her.

She said: "It felt like everything went into slow-motion. He had a gun pointing in my direction. I thought ‘oh my god, he is going to shoot me’. I feared for my life."

The court was played video footage of the shooting followed by the officers administering first aid before paramedics arrived.

Michelle Nimmo was driving a black Vauxhall Antara with her mum Tina Nimmo and baby in the back of the car when she saw the attack, the court heard.

In a statement Ms Nimmo said: "They were attacking him with their knives, chopping at him all over."

She added: "Throughout the attack and after the attack, the two attackers had an evil look on their faces. When they were not attacking him, they stared around looking proud and posing."

Her mother Tina broke down in tears as she recounted the scene to the court.

Adebolajo has asked to be known as Mujaahid Abu Hamza in court, while Adebowale has asked to be called Ismail Ibn Abdullah.

Along with murder, they are also each accused of attempting to murder a police officer on the same day, and conspiracy to murder a police officer on or before that day.

They deny all charges but admit possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence.

The trial continues.