Thomas Mair appears at Old Bailey accused of killing MP Jo Cox

Accused: Thomas Mair (centre) stands accompanied in the dock in a court sketch from this morning's appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court
Elizabeth Cook
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The alleged killer of Labour MP Jo Cox was remanded in custody this afternoon after appearing for the first time at the Old Bailey.

Thomas Mair, 52, is accused of stabbing the MP for Batley and Spen as she went to meet constituents at a regular surgery meeting, before shooting her three times.

The 41-year-old mother-of-two, who was only elected as an MP in May last year, died in hospital just over an hour after an attack, in Birstall, West Yorkshire last Thursday.

Mair, from the Field Head Estate in Birstall, gave his name as "Death to traitors, freedom for Britain" when he first appeared at Westminster magistrates' court on Saturday morning.

Flanked by two guards on the video link from HMP Belmarsh this afternoon, Mair, wearing a white jumper and beige trousers, sat with his arms folded throughout the brief hearing.

When the clerk asked: "Are you Thomas Mair?", he replied: "Yes I am."

A life cut tragically short: Jo Cox MP, who died after being attacked by a man in her constituency near Leeds
PA Wire

Court two at the Old Bailey was packed out with journalists for the brief court appearance.

Mair did not make an application for bail and was remanded in custody by Mr Justice Sweeney until the next hearing on Thursday.

The case is being dealt with under the terrorism protocol, and will be heard next by the senior terrorism judge Mr Justice Saunders.

The killing of Mrs Cox sent shockwaves throughout the UK and around the world, with President Barack Obama calling personally to offer condolences to Mrs Cox's husband Brendan.

At a vigil in Birstall's market square on Saturday, her sister Kim Leadbeater described the MP as "perfect", telling the crowd: "Jo would want us to focus on that which unites us not which divides us. She will live on through good people in the world."

She was slain in the street at 12.45pm, stabbed repeatedly and shot three times including once in the head.

A pensioner, 77-year-old Bernard Kenny came to her aid and was stabbed in the abdomen by the attacker. He remains in a stable condition in hospital.

In the wake of the attack, EU referendum campaigning was suspended and MPs are due back at Parliament today to pay tribute to Mrs Cox, who was due to celebrate her birthday on Wednesday.

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

He has not entered pleas to any of the charges.

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