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Labour MP Jo Cox 'murdered for political cause' Labour MP Jo Cox 'murdered for political cause'
(35 minutes later)
A man shouted "This is for Britain" as he killed Labour MP Jo Cox, the Old Bailey has heard.A man shouted "This is for Britain" as he killed Labour MP Jo Cox, the Old Bailey has heard.
She was stabbed 15 times and shot three times outside her constituency surgery in Birstall, near Leeds, on 16 June - a week before the EU referendum.She was stabbed 15 times and shot three times outside her constituency surgery in Birstall, near Leeds, on 16 June - a week before the EU referendum.
Jurors were told Thomas Mair, 53, killed the mother-of-two for "political and/or ideological reasons", and had researched "far right" material in the weeks beforehand.Jurors were told Thomas Mair, 53, killed the mother-of-two for "political and/or ideological reasons", and had researched "far right" material in the weeks beforehand.
Mr Mair, from Birstall, denies murder.Mr Mair, from Birstall, denies murder.
Mrs Cox, 41, had supported the Remain side during the EU campaign, and was due to hold a constituency surgery in a library after visiting a local school and care home when she was attacked.Mrs Cox, 41, had supported the Remain side during the EU campaign, and was due to hold a constituency surgery in a library after visiting a local school and care home when she was attacked.
'Cowardly''Cowardly'
Mr Mair told police officers "I am a political activist" after he was arrested less than a mile from the murder scene, the court heard. Mr Mair told police officers "I am a political activist" when he was arrested less than a mile from the murder scene, the court heard.
Prosecutor Richard Whittam QC said: "Thomas Mair clearly held views that provided him with a motive - utterly misplaced of course.Prosecutor Richard Whittam QC said: "Thomas Mair clearly held views that provided him with a motive - utterly misplaced of course.
"The prosecution suggests that motive was such that he killed her because she was an MP who did not share his views.""The prosecution suggests that motive was such that he killed her because she was an MP who did not share his views."
Mr Whittam said: "As she arrived she was brutally murdered by one of her constituents, this defendant, Thomas Mair. It was as Mrs Cox arrived for her constituency surgery that Mr Mair approached her from behind and stabbed her before shooting her, the court heard.
"It was a cowardly attack by a man armed with a firearm and a knife. Fazila Aswat, the MP's manager, allegedly heard the defendant shouting, "This is for Britain. Britain will always come first," the prosecution told the jury.
"Jo Cox was shot three times and suffered multiple stab wounds. During the course of the murder Thomas Mair was heard by a number of witnesses to say repeatedly, 'Britain First'."
Jurors were told that 77-year-old Bernard Carter-Kenny was also injured as he tried to save Mrs Cox.
Items found at Mr Mair's home showed he had "strong political and ideological interests", Mr Whittam said.Items found at Mr Mair's home showed he had "strong political and ideological interests", Mr Whittam said.
The court heard he had used computers to look up websites at the same library where Mrs Cox was due to hold her surgery. The court heard the accused had used computers to look up websites at the same library where Mrs Cox was due to hold her surgery.
In May, he accessed the Wikipedia page of an online publication called the Occidental Observer - a "far-right" publication "that covers politics and society from a white nationalist and anti-Semitic perspective", the prosecutor said. In May, he had accessed the Wikipedia page of an online publication called the Occidental Observer - a "far-right" publication "that covers politics and society from a white nationalist and anti-Semitic perspective", the prosecutor said.
Jurors were told that in the days leading up to the killing that he also looked at Twitter and Wikipedia pages for Mrs Cox and went on to view information on former Foreign Secretary William Hague. Jurors were told that in the days leading up to the killing that Mr Mair also looked at Twitter and Wikipedia pages for Mrs Cox and went on to view information on former Foreign Secretary William Hague.
And he viewed websites on Nazi material, the death penalty in Japan, political prisoners and the human liver and spinal column.And he viewed websites on Nazi material, the death penalty in Japan, political prisoners and the human liver and spinal column.
On the eve of the attack, say prosecutors, Mr Mair researched right-wing politicians, as well as the Ku Klux Klan and civil rights activists killed by its supporters.On the eve of the attack, say prosecutors, Mr Mair researched right-wing politicians, as well as the Ku Klux Klan and civil rights activists killed by its supporters.
The court heard Mr Mair was arrested following the attack and told officers he had a knife and gun in a black holdall he was carrying.The court heard Mr Mair was arrested following the attack and told officers he had a knife and gun in a black holdall he was carrying.
Jurors were shown photographs of a German-made .22 Weihrauch bolt-action weapon and were told Mrs Cox's blood was found on the barrel during forensic examination.Jurors were shown photographs of a German-made .22 Weihrauch bolt-action weapon and were told Mrs Cox's blood was found on the barrel during forensic examination.
Mr Whittam told the court a knife found in Mr Mair's backpack also had blood on the handle which contained "a major DNA profile matching that of Jo Cox and a minor DNA profile of the defendant".Mr Whittam told the court a knife found in Mr Mair's backpack also had blood on the handle which contained "a major DNA profile matching that of Jo Cox and a minor DNA profile of the defendant".
Mrs Cox was shot three times, once in the chest and twice in the head, and stabbed 15 times including in the heart and lungs.Mrs Cox was shot three times, once in the chest and twice in the head, and stabbed 15 times including in the heart and lungs.
Wounds to her hands showed she raised them to try to defend herself, the court heard. She had wounds to her hands showing she raised them to try to defend herself, the court heard.
Who was Jo Cox?Who was Jo Cox?
Jo Cox was a self-proclaimed "proud Yorkshire lass" whose work for charity took her around the world and whose political success led her to Westminster.Jo Cox was a self-proclaimed "proud Yorkshire lass" whose work for charity took her around the world and whose political success led her to Westminster.
The 41-year-old mother-of-two was elected as MP for Batley and Spen in the 2015 election and increased Labour's majority to 6,051 (from 4,406 in the 2010 election).The 41-year-old mother-of-two was elected as MP for Batley and Spen in the 2015 election and increased Labour's majority to 6,051 (from 4,406 in the 2010 election).
She described herself as "proud and humbled" to be the Labour MP for the place where she was born.She described herself as "proud and humbled" to be the Labour MP for the place where she was born.
Mrs Cox first worked in politics after graduating from Cambridge University in 1995, but then built a career working for charities including Oxfam, Save the Children and the NSPCC.Mrs Cox first worked in politics after graduating from Cambridge University in 1995, but then built a career working for charities including Oxfam, Save the Children and the NSPCC.
She was described by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as "a much loved colleague, a real talent and a dedicated campaigner for justice and peace."She was described by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as "a much loved colleague, a real talent and a dedicated campaigner for justice and peace."
Tireless campaigner turned political 'star'Tireless campaigner turned political 'star'
Jurors were shown CCTV footage of the defendant making his way along the road after leaving his home on the morning of the killing.Jurors were shown CCTV footage of the defendant making his way along the road after leaving his home on the morning of the killing.
The court heard Mrs Cox arrived for her surgery with her manager Fazila Aswat and senior caseworker Sandra Major at 12:50 BST. The court heard Mrs Cox arrived for her surgery with her manager Ms Aswat and senior caseworker Sandra Major at 12:50 BST.
The prosecution claimed that Mr Mair attacked the Labour MP two minutes later in what it described as a "dynamic, fast-moving and shocking incident".The prosecution claimed that Mr Mair attacked the Labour MP two minutes later in what it described as a "dynamic, fast-moving and shocking incident".
'For Britain''For Britain'
Jurors were told that passer-by Shelly Morris reported hearing "a loud bang like a popping sound" and a "loud piercing scream".Jurors were told that passer-by Shelly Morris reported hearing "a loud bang like a popping sound" and a "loud piercing scream".
She said she saw a man with a large steak knife with a jagged blade which he wielded in a "stabbing motion".She said she saw a man with a large steak knife with a jagged blade which he wielded in a "stabbing motion".
The court was told Ms Aswat saw Mr Mair approach the MP from behind and stab her before shooting her with the gun. Jurors were told that 77-year-old Bernard Carter-Kenny was also injured as he tried to save Mrs Cox.
He continued to attack Mrs Cox and Mr Carter-Kenny with the knife before firing again at the politician.
The prosecution said Ms Aswat alleged that she heard the defendant shouting: "This is for Britain. Britain will always come first."
Mr Mair denies murder, grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon - a dagger.Mr Mair denies murder, grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon - a dagger.
The trial continues, and is expected to last for up to three weeks.The trial continues, and is expected to last for up to three weeks.