Jo Cox used her last moments to warn her feminine colleagues to transfer away from her alleged killer shouting 'let him damage me, not you' as she lay bleeding to demise.
The Labour MP had already been shot as soon as and repeatedly stabbed when she shouted at Fazila Aswat and Sandra Main to guard themselves from her frenzied killer, the Previous Bailey heard.
Seconds later, Thomas Mair - who had began to maneuver away from the scene - returned to Mrs Cox's facet and allegedly shot her twice within the face at point-blank vary.
The mother-of-two - who supported the marketing campaign for Britain to stay within the EU - then bled to demise in entrance of shocked passersby.
Mair refused to look at disturbing CCTV of the assault which was performed to the courtroom right now. Jurors have been additionally proven clips that allegedly confirmed Mair in Birstall within the hours main as much as Mrs Cox's demise.
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Thomas Mair, 53 (left) is claimed to have dropped his bag and surrendered to officers as they approached him in Birstall, close to Leeds, after Jo Cox (proper) was killed
Jo Cox's assistant Fazila Aswat gave proof to the Previous Bailey of the MP's last moments
The prosecution claims this CCTV footage reveals Mair in Birstall on the day Mrs Cox was killed
This afternoon, Mrs Cox's mom and sister wiped away tears as dramatic particulars of the 41-year-old's last moments have been heard in courtroom.
The 'politically-motivated' killing, which befell exterior her constituency surgical procedure in Birstall, West Yorkshire, got here on the top of the referendum marketing campaign.
Mair - who is claimed to have researched right-wing literature the evening earlier than Mrs Cox died - denies the homicide.
Giving proof, Ms Aswat described the killing because the second 'their lives modified ceaselessly'.
Ms Aswat, pictured in June, advised how she cradled the MP after she was attacked
Describing how she begged Mrs Cox to 'stand up and run', Ms Aswat stated: 'At the moment she was speaking. She stated, "I can't run, I'm damage".
'However even then her voice was so average, so composed, even in that instantaneous.'
She additionally pleaded her to 'consider her two youngsters' in a determined bid to maintain her alive.
However Ms Aswat described how Mair walked again in direction of the dying MP.
'Jo was in my arms. It in all probability solely took about three or 4 minutes for the police and ambulance to reach, nevertheless it appeared like a lifetime,' she stated.
Ms Aswat, Mrs Cox's private assistant, had pushed her boss and buddy, alongside together with her colleague, to the library in a silver Vauxhall Astra after visiting a college and care house earlier that day. CCTV footage proven to the courtroom reveals the automotive driving by way of Birstall, minutes earlier than the assault.
Ms Aswat stated Mrs Cox was set upon as she walked in direction of the Birstall library, the place she was because of meet constituents between 1 and 2pm on 16 June.
CCTV cameras captured the silver Vauxhall Astra through which Mrs Cox was travelling simply minutes earlier than the assault. The car is seen right here driving in direction of Birstall library
The jury have been proven this CCTV picture of a person the prosecution claims to be Mair, taken on the morning Mrs Cox was killed. He's seen on a highway simply minutes from the scene of the assault
'In that instantaneous our lives modified ceaselessly,' she stated.
'The subsequent factor I noticed was Jo was on the ground and there was a person standing over her with a knife and that was after I knew one thing was utterly fallacious,' she stated.
'At the moment I clearly panicked so I began shouting, "any person assist". Then there was a gun and a knife after which she was on the ground.
'I can bear in mind the hand movement. It was actually quick.'
Ms Aswat advised jurors she was screaming out for the attacker to depart her boss alone.
Ms Main, who had bought out of the automotive simply earlier than her colleague stated she first noticed Mrs Cox's attacker in her peripheral imaginative and prescient.
'He had a gun in his hand and he raised his arm and shot Jo within the head,' she stated.
'She fell backwards onto the bottom and there was blood pouring down her face.
'He did shout one thing, it was one thing alongside the strains of "hold Britain unbiased" or "British independence".'
The witness stated Mair then took a black knife out of his bag.
'Jo was mendacity on the ground and she or he kind of tried to take a seat up slightly bit utilizing her proper arm to push herself up, after which he simply began stabbing her and Jo was making an attempt to get away,' she stated.
Ms Main, a senior case employee, stated: 'She was shouting, "get away you two, let him damage me, don't let him damage you".
PC Craig Nicholls (pictured in a courtroom sketch), one of many two cops who arrested Mair advised the Previous Bailey right now that he discovered a bag of bullets on the defendant
Mrs Cox's household - sister Kim Leadbeater (left), mom Jean Leadbeater (centre) and father Gordon Leadbeater (proper) - are pictured arriving on the Previous Bailey this morning
'He began to stroll away, after which when Jo shouted out, he got here again. He shot her twice extra and began stabbing her once more. She was on the ground. She didn't stand up once more.'
The courtroom was additionally advised how they tried to battle Mair off with their purses, however didn't make contact.
Earlier right now, the courtroom was advised how Mair had a 'Stronger In Europe' flyer in his bag when he carried out the killing.
The 53-year-old was allegedly carrying the Stay marketing campaign leaflet, together with a bag of bullets, a loaded sawn-off and a knife.
Twenty minutes later, Mair was arrested about one mile from the scene, allegedly shouting 'it is me' as he was tackled to the bottom by officers.
The unemployed gardener - who's accused of shouting 'Britain First' as he carried out the assault - then proclaimed he was a 'political activist', the Previous Bailey heard.
That is the gun which Thomas Mair allegedly used to shoot MP Jo Cox at point-blank vary. the Previous Bailey heard right now how, on the scene of his arrest, Mair confirmed officers his bag which contained the gun
The jury on the Previous Bailey have been additionally proven a knife that Mair allegedly used to repeatedly stab the Labour MP. It's alleged that he advised officers he had a knife when he was arrested
He's additionally stated to have confessed he 'had a knife' earlier than revealing a bag containing a gun as he was approached by two patrol officers following the politician's demise.
This afternoon, the courtroom heard from hero pensioner Bernard Carter Kenny, who was allegedly knifed by MP Jo Cox's killer as he stepped in to 'take him down'.
The 78-year-old, who didn't seem on the Previous Bailey, was ready in his automotive for his spouse to come back out of Birstall library when he noticed the girl he recognised because the Labour Batley and Spen MP.
'The subsequent factor I heard was a bang. I believed it seemed like a gun, however I believed it will probably't be a gun, It was like a shot. I believed a automotive was backfiring. Then I noticed Jo Cox roll into the highway,' he stated.
Mr Carter Kenny stated he then noticed a person with a knife in his hand.
'I ran throughout, I used to be solely parked two automobiles away. I used to be planning to leap on his shoulders, he had his again to me, waving a knife about.
'I believed, "if I can leap on the again of him, I can take him down."
However he stated that as he made his approach in direction of the assailant, he was noticed by the person holding a 'dagger' with a 'nine-inch' blade.
'He shoved the knife and it hit me within the abdomen, I put my hand over my abdomen on the wound,' Mr Carter Kenny continued.
'I noticed the blood and thought, "oh my God".'
The pensioner advised how he staggered throughout the highway and 'simply flopped' onto the steps of a sandwich store, the place two women dragged him inside to patch him up.
He stated: 'I used to be kind of drifting out and in of consciousness.
'Folks have been shocked, and tried to cease the bleeding, and I simply stated to my spouse to name our son.
'This man was going berserk with the knife. He was shouting.
'He stood up, she was curled up in opposition to the bottom. He was both punching or stabbing her, he was waving the dagger.
'The women have been screaming, and abruptly he simply set off. He ran down the highway.'
His liver was broken on account of the assault, he added.
On the similar time, Mair was allegedly returning to assault Mrs Cox for a second time.
'She was curled up on the bottom and his hand was going up and down within the method of punching or stabbing,' Mr Carter Kenny added.
The courtroom additionally watched CCTV footage which the prosecution claimed confirmed Mair, carrying a baseball cap and jacket, strolling across the streets of Birstall within the hours main as much as the assault. He was then filmed wandering round near the library exterior the place Mrs Cox was killed, it was heard.
The jury additionally heard proof from PC Craig Nicholls, one of many two cops who arrested Mair.
Describing the arrest, PC Nicholls advised the Previous Bailey how he and PC Jonathan Wright have been on cellular police patrol within the space once they have been advised to look out for a person suspected of being concerned in a taking pictures.
PC Nicholls advised jurors they noticed a suspect matching the outline simply after 1.30pm, carrying a black holdall.
He stated: 'We drove previous him initially. I spun the car round. That is when he disappeared.'
PC Nicholls then become a cul-de-sac and noticed the person in the course of the highway, the courtroom heard.
His colleague leaned out and ordered him 'a number of occasions' to place the bag down and present his palms.
The West Yorkshire Police officer advised jurors: 'He dropped the bag to his proper hand facet. He circled and it was very fast, put his palms into his pockets.
PC Craig Nicholls (left) and PC Jonathan Wright (proper) are pictured arriving on the Previous Bailey. The officers rugby-tackled Mair to the bottom after seeing him close to the positioning of the killing
Mrs Cox's father, mom and sister sat within the public gallery on the Previous Bailey as they listened to the prosecution's opening
The jury was advised how a number of witnesses heard Mair (pictured in a courtroom sketch) shout 'Britain First' as he stabbed Mrs Cox a number of occasions earlier than taking pictures her with a .22 calibre gun
'I simply bear in mind seeing unfastened change fall out of his pockets. At that time he put his arms out and stated "it is me".'
The officer advised jurors that they then 'rugby tackled him to the bottom'.
Beneath cross-examination, defence barrister Simon Russell-Flint QC steered Mair had remained silent throughout the arrest.
Questioning the officer, he stated: 'There may be plenty of radio noise. The (police) automotive engine is working. You might be 20 yards away. PC Wright is shouting at him (Mair) to drop it (the bag). You might be nonetheless within the automotive, as is PC Wright.
'And you might be saying you may each hear one thing like "It is me"?' PC Nicholls replied: 'He did say it.'
The defence barrister additionally alleged that Mair had not stated he was a political activist.
PC Jonathan Wright, the second officer who arrested Mair, echoed his colleague's account of Mair's arrest.
Mrs Cox, 41 (pictured), was the MP for Batley and Spen and was seen as a rising star within the Labour camp. Her demise got here one week earlier than the EU referendum
He advised the jury: 'As we ran in direction of him - I can't bear in mind getting out of the car - the subsequent factor I bear in mind is working shoulder to shoulder with PC Nicholls as quick as we may.
'As we reached the male, his arms moved in direction of his belt line. I used to be fearful as a result of he had a loose-fitting shirt and I couldn't see what he had beneath so we each took him to the bottom.
'I requested him "What have you ever bought on you?" and he advised me 'I've bought a knife in my pocket'.'
After looking his pockets, the officer stated he noticed a gun within the defendant's holdall. He stated: 'I opened the bag to take a look in it. I noticed a firearm.'
He additionally discovered a bag of bullets, he added.
That is the library card which Mair used when he allegedly researched Nazi materials on the similar library the place Jo Cox was killed the next day
Mair is accused of murdering Mrs Cox whereas shouting 'Britain First, that is for Britain, Britain will at all times come first'.
It's alleged Mair attacked the Labour MP from behind as she arrived at her constituency surgical procedure.
The prosecution declare Mair focused the newly-elected Batley and Spen MP due to her outspoken help for Britain to stay a part of Europe.
Right this moment, throughout the trial, Mair's neighbours described the alleged assassin of MP Jo Cox was a 'quiet man with only a few mates'.
In a press release learn to jurors, neighbour David Thomas stated he had lived in a semi-detached home in Birstall for 20 years together with his grandmother however that she had died a couple of years in the past.
He added that Mair - who he knew as 'Tommy' - had a youthful brother and a mom who he believed was nonetheless alive.
'Tommy was a quiet man so far as I used to be conscious and had only a few mates,' the assertion stated.
'He used to do gardening as a pastime and, together with others, minimize the grass in entrance of my home.'
Mr Thomas stated he noticed Mair on the morning he's alleged to have murdered the Labour MP.
'Tommy usually walked to his home carrying buying baggage - I'd see him two or thrice a day coming and going from his home - so there was nothing uncommon about seeing him on this present day,' he added.
Through the opening of the trial on Monday, the courtroom heard how Mair spent hours finding out the Nazi Waffen-SS, the Ku Klux Klan and different white supremacist organisations within the days earlier than Mrs Cox was killed.
Utilizing computer systems on the public library the place Mrs Cox's surgical procedure was because of happen, he additionally made web searches for details about Mrs Cox, the courtroom heard.
It is usually alleged that he appeared up Mr Hague, one other distinguished Yorkshire-based Stay campaigner, elevating fears the previous Tory MP may have been focused too.
Mair can also be accused of researching the demise of Conservative MP Ian Gow - the final sitting MP to be murdered - who was killed in 1990 by a bomb that had been planted beneath his automotive by the IRA.
Right this moment, jurors have been proven CCTV footage of Mair visiting the native library the day earlier than the alleged homicide.
Beverley Fletcher, who works as a customer support officer at Birstall library, stated in a press release she knew him as a daily customer.
'So far as I knew Thomas Mair solely used the IT providers and I do not bear in mind him ever getting a ebook out of the library,' she stated.
'Thomas Mair would not interact in dialog and would not give a lot eye contact, however I do know he makes use of the computer systems so I haven't got to have a lot contact with him.'
She added: 'It is my notion he likes privateness as a result of he would not interact or discuss a lot.'
Jurors have been additionally proven cell phone footage shot by a road resident displaying Mair's arrest.
They have been additionally proven photos from the scene, together with the holdall containing the gun prosecutors allege was utilized in Mrs Cox's homicide.
One other confirmed a baseball cap mendacity by spatters of blood. Jurors have been advised that Mair suffered a head harm throughout his arrest.
A scenes of crime officer discovered a dagger and sheath contained in the black Viking Sports activities bag, the courtroom heard, and Mair's library card and a pupil school card have been recovered.
One other blade in a gold-coloured cylinder was amongst gadgets within the highway, jurors have been advised.
Mrs Cox died on June 16, per week earlier than Britain voted on whether or not to depart the EU.
The courtroom heard how Mair spent hours mendacity in watch for Mrs Cox, together with his specifically tailored gun hidden beneath a coat draped over his arm.
Within the chaotic two-minute assault, witnesses noticed the gunman repeatedly stabbing on the MP with a big knife.
Witnesses heard the attacker say: 'Britain First, that is for Britain, Britain will at all times come first.'
Emergency providers rapidly arrived and Mrs Cox had emergency surgical procedure as she lay on the street – however she couldn't be saved.
Mrs Cox lived on a houseboat on the Thames in Wapping, east London, together with her husband Brendan – whom she met whereas working on the charity Oxfam – together with their two younger youngsters.
Former Coronation Road actress Tracy Brabin was elected Mrs Cox's successor with an awesome 86 per cent of the vote at a by-election earlier this month.
Mair denies homicide, possessing a firearm and possessing a dagger.
He additionally denies inflicting grievous bodily hurt in relation to former miner Mr Carter-Kenny, 77.
The defendant declined to enter a plea when he appeared on the Previous Bailey final month and the not responsible pleas to all 4 prices have been entered on instruction of the decide.
His case will probably be handled as a terrorist trial as a result of the alleged homicide was 'made for the aim of advancing a political, non secular, racial or ideological trigger' in keeping with the Terrorism Act 2000, a decide dominated earlier this yr.
It means Mair is being tried in the identical approach as Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, who killed Fusilier Lee Rigby.
The trial, which is anticipated to last as long as three weeks, continues.
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