UK MP murder suspect yells ‘death to traitors’ in court

LONDON

A man charged with the murder of Labour Party lawmaker Jo Cox declared his name was “Death to traitors, freedom for Britain” in his first court appearance.

Thomas Mair, 52, refused to give his correct name and address during his brief appearance at London’s Westminster magistrates court Saturday morning.

He was arrested Thursday, shortly after Cox was repeatedly shot and stabbed in the northern English town of Birstall before a meeting with residents in her electoral district

Asked by the judge to confirm his name, the Guardian reported Mair said: “My name is death to traitors, freedom for Britain.”

Dressed in a tracksuit pants and a grey sweater, he remained silent when asked to confirm his address and date of birth.

Mair’s lawyers confirmed his name on his behalf.

He will remain in custody until his next appearance Monday at the Old Bailey, London’s central criminal court.

Earlier police said an unnamed 77-year-old man who "bravely intervened" to assist Cox as she was attacked was in a stable condition in hospital after being injured in the abdomen.

The death of Cox, a 41-year-old mother of two, has shocked Britain’s political establishment and halted all campaigning just five days before voters go the polls to decide whether the U.K. should remain a member of the European Union.

Campaign events, street stalls, and rallies will remain suspended through the country Saturday. Britain Stronger in Europe, the group calling for a vote to remain in the EU, said in a message to volunteers that its canvassing would resume Sunday "not least in Jo’s memory".

A special election will be held in the coming weeks to fill Cox’s vacant Batley and Spen parliamentary seat. Britain’s governing Conservatives and opposition parties have announced they will not contest the vote, giving Labour a potential free run to retain it.