Killing of British MP Jo Cox was a politically motivated murder by pro-Brexit ‘activist’, trial hears

British Labour MP Jo Cox was repeatedly shot and stabbed in a “brutal, cowardly” and politically-motivated murder, the trial of the man accused of the killing was told on Monday.

Thomas Mair was uttering the words “Britain first” and “keep Britain independent” as he carried out the attack one week before the Brexit referendum, Richard Whittam QC, prosecuting, told the Old Bailey.

The killer struck as Cox went about her business in her Yorkshire constituency during the European referendum campaign, in which she had supported the campaign to remain in the EU.

Her final moments – in an assault described by the prosecution as “dynamic, fast-moving and shocking” – were captured by closed circuit television cameras. “It was a cowardly attack by a man armed with a firearm and a knife,” Whittam told the jury. He added: “It was a premeditated murder for a political and/or ideological cause.”

Mair is charged with the murder of Cox ‪on 16 June‬ this year, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an offence, possession of a dagger and grievous bodily harm to a second victim, passerby Bernard Carter Kenny.

The 53-year-old unemployed gardener declined to enter a plea when he appeared at the Old Bailey last month. As a consequence, not guilty pleas to all four charges were entered on his behalf.