The Slatest

Accused Killer of U.K. Lawmaker Says Name is “Death to Traitors, Freedom for Britain”

Floral tributes are left for Labour MP Jo Cox on June 18, 2016 in Birstall, United Kingdom.  

Matt Cardy/Getty Images

The man accused of killing British lawmaker Jo Cox appeared in court today and gave his name as “death to traitors, freedom for Britain.” Thomas Mair, 52, was in court for the first time on Saturday and refused to give his correct name despite repeated requests from a courthouse clerk. “My name is death to traitors, freedom for Britain,” he calmly repeated when he was asked again to confirm his name. The judge then turned to his lawyers, who ended up confirming his identity.

Mair did not speak again at the 15-minute hearing in which he was not required to enter a plea on charges of murder, causing grievous bodily harm, and possession of a firearm and a knife. His attorney said there was still no indication about which plea he would enter. Mair’s next court appearance is on Monday.

The prosecuting attorney gave the court a summary of the case, describing how Cox was attacked at around 12:45 p.m. on Thursday. After she was repeatedly stabbed, the member of Parliament was shot three times while she was on the ground. “The defendant continued to stab Mrs Cox as she lay fighting for her life. Whilst doing so the defendant was heard to say words to the effect of ‘Britain first, keep Britain independent, Britain always comes first, this is for Britain’,” prosecuting counsel David Cawthorne said.

While he was being held down by two police officers, Mair allegedly described himself as “a political activist.”

Officials have yet to outline a motive for the killing, but it came in the middle of a heated campaign ahead of a referendum on whether Britain should leave the European Union. Cox was an ardent supporter of staying in the bloc. All sides have suspended their campaigns ahead of the vote, in a clear sign of how the country is still reeling from what marked the first killing of a sitting member of Parliament since 1990.