‘Death to traitors, freedom for Britain’ Suspected killer of MP Jo Cox appears in court

THE MAN charged with the brutal murder of Labour MP Jo Cox gave his name as "death to traitors, freedom for Britain" during his appearance in court this morning.

Mrs Cox, 41, died after being shot and stabbed in the street outside her constituency surgery in Birstall, near Leeds, on Thursday.

Eyewitnesses said the mother-of-two was left lying in a pool of blood on the pavement after the incident in West Yorkshire.

Police have confirmed Thomas Mair, of Birstall,was arrested over the killing.

He has since been charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.

The 52-year-old gave his name as "Death to traitors, freedom for Britain" as he appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London today.

After the court fell silent, he was asked to repeat his name to which he said: "My name is Death to traitors, freedom to Britain."

Wearing a grey jumper, tracksuit bottoms and black shoes and accompanied by a security guard on eith side of him, he then refused to give his correct name to the court — heard by Deputy Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot.

Mair, who was handcuffed to the dock, also remained silent when asked his address and date of birth.

Security has been tight for Mair's appearance, arriving in a convoy of vehicles including the armoured van he was brought to court in, followed by an unmarked police car and a further police van.

Mair was not required to enter a plea and his lawyer Keith Allen said there was no indication of what plea would be given.

He also told the court that legal aid has been applied for.

Ms Arbuthnot ordered that he be remanded in custody at Belmarsh Prison until his next appearance, at the Old Bailey on Monday.

The judge also suggested that a psychiatric report should be prepared, saying: "Bearing in mind the name he has just given, he ought to be seen by a psychiatrist."

Vigils have been held across the country in memory of Mrs Cox, a mother-of-two, Cambridge graduate and a prominent member of the Remain campaign.

Elected in 2015, the MP spent a decade working in a variety of roles with aid agency Oxfam, including head of policy, head of humanitarian campaigning based in New York and head of its European office in Brussels.

Her family have said they hope people will “unite to fight against the hatred that killed her”.

WHO WAS JO COX?

West Yorkshire Police Temporary Chief Constable Dee Collins have confirmed a 77-year-old man remains in a stable condition in hospital after he was injured when he "bravely intervened" in an effort to help Mrs Cox.

The father of Mrs Cox's assistant Fazila Aswat, who also served as a Former Labour councillor, told how the mother-of–two’s last words as she lay bleeding in the street were "my pain is too much".