Jo Cox: Thomas Mair to face trial in autumn over brutal killing of Labour MP

Accused: Thomas Mair appeared in court today
Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire
Mark Chandler23 June 2016
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The man charged with the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox will go on trial in the autumn after appearing in court today.

Thomas Mair is accused of shooting and stabbing Mrs Cox, 41, outside her constituency surgery in Birstall, near Leeds, last Thursday.

He is 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, appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from the high-security Belmarsh prison in south-east London.

A photo of Jo Cox shared on Twitter by her husband Brendan after her death 
Brendan Cox/Twitter

The senior judge set a provisional timetable with a trial fixed to start on November 14.

Another hearing will take place on September 19 at the Old Bailey, with a plea hearing pencilled in on October 4. The trial will be heard before a High Court judge and is likely to be at the Old Bailey.

Grey bearded Mair, from Birstall, whose case is being handled under the "terrorism protocol", spoke only to confirm his name.

At a magistrates' hearing last week he gave it as "Death to traitors, freedom for Britain."

Throughout, he sat with his head bowed, taking notes, and made no reaction as his lawyer Cairns Nelson QC discussed his case with prosecutor Mark Dawson and the judge.

The preliminary hearing coincides with referendum day and comes the day after Mrs Cox's widower Brendan and their two young children marked what would have been her 42nd birthday.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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