Suspect in UK MP’s murder charged, remanded to custody
LONDON: Thomas Mair, charged with the murder of popular Labour MP Jo Cox, was remanded to custody by the Westminster magistrates’ court on Saturday after giving
LONDON: Thomas Mair, charged with the murder of popular Labour MP Jo Cox, was remanded to custody by the Westminster magistrates’ court on Saturday after giving his name in court as “Death to traitors, freedom for Britain”.
Campaigning for the June 23 referendum on Britain’s future in the European Union remained suspended for the weekend in view of Cox’s murder on Thursday, but is expected to resume with a more respectful tone on Sunday.
Emma Arbuthnot, deputy chief magistrate, ordered that Mair be remanded in custody at Belmarsh prison until his next appearance at the Old Bailey on Monday. She suggested a psychiatric report be prepared :“Bearing in mind the name he has just given, he ought to be seen by a psychiatrist.”
Nick Wallen of West Yorkshire Police said Mair was charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.
Mair, 52, refused to give his name in court, and did not respond when asked to confirm his address and date of birth.
A 77-year-old man, who was injured when he tried to help Cox during the attack, was reported to be in a stable condition in hospital. Vigils have been held across Britain and Prime Minister David Cameron and opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn visited Cox’s Batley and Spen constituency to pay tributes. Parliament has been recalled on Monday to allow MPs to pay tributes to Cox, a first-time MP elected in the May 2015 election.
The murder sent shock-waves around the world. The 41-year-old mother of two was shot and stabbed in the street in a daylight attack in her constituency in northern England.
Both sides in the deeply divisive Brexit campaign cancelled events amid calls for a less acrimonious political debate.
