Jo Cox murder trial: Thomas Mair accused of shooting and stabbing MP

A man is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of murdering MP Jo Cox at a community surgery.

Mrs Cox, 41, died from multiple gunshot and stab wounds after being attacked outside her constituency surgery in Birstall, West Yorkshire, in June.

Thomas Mair, 53, from Birstall, is accused of murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.

The charges relate to the murder of Jo outside Birstall library on June 16 this year, as well as an attack on passer-by Bernard Kenny who tried to intervene.

Mair is also accused of committing grievous bodily harm with intent against 77-year-old Bernard Kenny.  Mr Kenny is alleged to have been stabbed in the abdomen as he tried to stop Mrs Cox being attacked at Birstall Library on June 16.

A jury of eight men and four women has been sworn in ahead of the trial at the Old Bailey.
Trial judge is Mr Justice Wilkie. The trial is expected for go on for up to three weeks.

The judge has previously ruled the case will be treated under ‘terrorism protocol’

Mair, 53, denies all charges against him.

Prosecutor Richard Whittam, QC has told the court Mr Mair repeatedly shouted “Britain First” as he attacked the Labour MP and added the prosecution’s case is that Mrs Cox was killed while she was performing her role as a Member of Parliament. He further added Mr Mair’s intention was to kill her in what was a planned and pre-meditated murder for a political and/or ideological cause.

Mair used an adapted .22 rifle and a dagger-like weapon in the attack.

The jury was shown CCTV of Thomas Mair visiting the library where he allegedly murdered Jo Cox the day before her death. He used a public computer to access Jo Cox’s Twitter page and Wikipedia page. He also allegedly accessed the Wikipedia page of Conservative MP Ian Gow, who was murdered by the IRA in 1990.  He also looked at information about William Hague, another Remain supporter and Yorkshire politician as well as Ku Klux Klan sites.

The trial continues