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Jo Cox: Man jailed for 'terrorist' murder of MP Jo Cox: Man jailed for 'terrorist' murder of MP
(35 minutes later)
Thomas Mair has been jailed for life after being found guilty of the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox.Thomas Mair has been jailed for life after being found guilty of the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox.
The 53-year-old shot and stabbed to death the mother-of-two in Birstall, West Yorkshire, on 16 June, a week before the EU referendum vote.The 53-year-old shot and stabbed to death the mother-of-two in Birstall, West Yorkshire, on 16 June, a week before the EU referendum vote.
Mair shouted "Britain First" in the attack, but the judge said the true "patriot" was Mrs Cox, not Mair.Mair shouted "Britain First" in the attack, but the judge said the true "patriot" was Mrs Cox, not Mair.
Prosecutors said Mair was motivated by hate and his crimes were "nothing less than acts of terrorism".Prosecutors said Mair was motivated by hate and his crimes were "nothing less than acts of terrorism".
Mair was also found guilty of having a firearm with intent, causing grievous bodily harm with intent to 78-year-old Bernard Kenny, who tried to help the MP, and having an offensive weapon, namely a dagger. The jury also found Mair guilty of having a firearm with intent, causing grievous bodily harm with intent to 78-year-old Bernard Kenny, who tried to help the MP, and having an offensive weapon, namely a dagger.
Thomas Mair: The man who murdered MP Jo CoxThomas Mair: The man who murdered MP Jo Cox
Brendan Cox: 'Jo strengthened, not silenced'Brendan Cox: 'Jo strengthened, not silenced'
Conviction closes 'sad chapter'Conviction closes 'sad chapter'
Mair, dressed in a dark suit and blue tie, remained impassive as the verdicts were read out, after one hour of deliberations. Westminster reacts to verdicts
Mair, dressed in a dark suit and blue tie, remained impassive as the verdicts were read out, after just over 90 minutes of deliberations.
He had not entered a plea and chose not to give evidence in his defence at the trial.He had not entered a plea and chose not to give evidence in his defence at the trial.
Before sentencing, Mair asked to speak to the courtroom but the judge declined, saying he had already had an opportunity. But before sentencing, Mair asked to speak to the courtroom. The judge declined, saying he had already had an opportunity.
At courtAt court
Daniela Relph, BBC News correspondentDaniela Relph, BBC News correspondent
The jury took just one hour and 36 minutes to reach its verdicts. Every seat in courtroom eight of the Old Bailey was filled as the jury foreman stood to deliver the guilty verdicts.The jury took just one hour and 36 minutes to reach its verdicts. Every seat in courtroom eight of the Old Bailey was filled as the jury foreman stood to deliver the guilty verdicts.
From Mair there was no reaction. He had maintained his silence throughout the trial and during every police interview.From Mair there was no reaction. He had maintained his silence throughout the trial and during every police interview.
As the verdicts were delivered, Jo Cox's family smiled. Her sister, Kim, held her mother's hand. Then Jo Cox's husband read a victim impact statement.As the verdicts were delivered, Jo Cox's family smiled. Her sister, Kim, held her mother's hand. Then Jo Cox's husband read a victim impact statement.
Standing in the witness box, in front of the man who murdered his wife, Brendan Cox told Mair that he pitied him because his life was devoid of love and consumed by hatred. It was a highly charged moment.Standing in the witness box, in front of the man who murdered his wife, Brendan Cox told Mair that he pitied him because his life was devoid of love and consumed by hatred. It was a highly charged moment.
The Cox family watched as Mair was led away, in silence, to begin his life sentence.The Cox family watched as Mair was led away, in silence, to begin his life sentence.
Mrs Cox's husband Brendan said he was not there for "retribution" and felt "nothing but pity for" Mair, in a statement read out to the Old Bailey. In a statement read to a packed courtroom at the Old Bailey, Mrs Cox's husband Brendan said he was not there for "retribution".
Speaking outside court, he said his wife's killing was an incompetent and self-defeating act of terrorism that was driven by hatred but instead created an outpouring of love. "We feel nothing but pity for him that his life was so devoid of love and filled with hatred," he said.
Later, speaking outside court, he said his wife's killing was an incompetent and self-defeating act of terrorism that was driven by hatred but instead created an outpouring of love.
His family would not respond to hatred with hatred, he said, and Jo's ideas and values would live on in her children, and family.His family would not respond to hatred with hatred, he said, and Jo's ideas and values would live on in her children, and family.
In sentencing, Judge Mr Justice Wilkie described Mrs Cox as a wonderful mother, sister, daughter and companion, with a generosity of spirit that was apparent even when faced with a violent death. In sentencing, Judge Mr Justice Wilkie described Mrs Cox as "a wonderful mother, daughter, sister, partner, and companion".
Mair's inspiration was not love of country but admiration for Nazism, the judge said, which was a betrayal of our parents' generation's huge sacrifices during World War II. He said her generosity of spirit was "evident in the selfless concern she had for others, even when facing a violent death", referring to Mrs Cox's plea to her assistants to get away and save themselves, as she lay dying in the street.
He said Mair had not the courage to acknowledge what he did and forced Mrs Cox's family to relive the events. Addressing an impassive Mair, he said: "You affect to be a patriot. The words you uttered repeatedly when you killed her, give lip service to that concept.
Judge Mr Justice Wilkie said the murder was carried out to advance a political cause of violent white supremacism, associated with Nazism. "Those sentiments can be legitimate and can have resonance but in your mouth, allied to your actions, they are tainted and made toxic."
Mair's inspiration was not love of country but admiration for Nazism, the judge said.
He said Mair had not the courage to acknowledge what he had done and forced Mrs Cox's family to relive the events.
By contrast, your second victim of the day - Mr Kenny - acted "instinctively and courageously" to try to save Mrs Cox and deserves the highest praise, he said to Mair.
Mr Justice Wilkie said the murder was carried out to advance a political cause of violent white supremacism, associated with Nazism.
He said the aggravating feature was the premeditation and planning over weeks, in which he researched his intended victim, the past assassination of a serving MP and matricide, knowing Mrs Cox was the mother of young children.He said the aggravating feature was the premeditation and planning over weeks, in which he researched his intended victim, the past assassination of a serving MP and matricide, knowing Mrs Cox was the mother of young children.
The judge sentenced Mair to life imprisonment, with a whole life term.The judge sentenced Mair to life imprisonment, with a whole life term.
He said he had concluded that the offence was so exceptional that Mair could only be released by the home secretary. He said he had concluded that the offence was so exceptional that Mair could only be released by a secretary of state.
Mrs Cox's parents, Jean and Gordon Leadbeater, and her sister, Kim, were also in court for the verdicts. Mrs Cox's parents, Jean and Gordon Leadbeater, and her sister, Kim, were in court for the verdicts.
Kim Leadbeater said her family were relieved that the process was over after a difficult few months.Kim Leadbeater said her family were relieved that the process was over after a difficult few months.
"There may have been one act of extreme cowardice on that day, but there were acts of extreme bravery."There may have been one act of extreme cowardice on that day, but there were acts of extreme bravery.
"I, for one, will not be beaten by what has happened and I know I am not alone," she said."I, for one, will not be beaten by what has happened and I know I am not alone," she said.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the "shocking and senseless murder" of Mrs Cox was "an attack on all of us and the values we share of democracy and tolerance". Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mair had "robbed the world of an ambassador of kindness and compassion".
"The single biggest tribute we can pay to Jo and her life will be to confront those who wish to promote the hatred and division that led to her murder, he said.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd called it a "shocking and senseless murder" that was "an attack on all of us and the values we share of democracy and tolerance".
"As home secretary, I am determined that we challenge extremism in all its forms including the evil of far right extremism and the terrible damage it can cause to individuals, families and communities," she said."As home secretary, I am determined that we challenge extremism in all its forms including the evil of far right extremism and the terrible damage it can cause to individuals, families and communities," she said.
The Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement: "Mair has offered no explanation for his actions but the prosecution was able to demonstrate that, motivated by hate, his pre-meditated crimes were nothing less than acts of terrorism designed to advance his twisted ideology."The Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement: "Mair has offered no explanation for his actions but the prosecution was able to demonstrate that, motivated by hate, his pre-meditated crimes were nothing less than acts of terrorism designed to advance his twisted ideology."
The CPS said it worked closely with police to build a strong case, and commended a number of "brave" eye witnesses who gave evidence.The CPS said it worked closely with police to build a strong case, and commended a number of "brave" eye witnesses who gave evidence.
Det Supt Nick Wallen, of West Yorkshire Police, said Mair was a "cold-blooded killer" who lived a solitary lifestyle, with no social circle and had never come to the notice of the police before.Det Supt Nick Wallen, of West Yorkshire Police, said Mair was a "cold-blooded killer" who lived a solitary lifestyle, with no social circle and had never come to the notice of the police before.
He said nothing could ever excuse the evil and the horror that he brought to the small town of Birstall.He said nothing could ever excuse the evil and the horror that he brought to the small town of Birstall.