Suspect in UK MP’s murder charged, remanded to custody

Mair faces a number of charges including the murder of Cox and the possession of a firearm.

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

He answered his correct name when asked, rather than how he answered on Saturday when at Westminster Magistrates’ Court: “Death to traitors, freedom for Britain”.

British MPs have also been recalled to parliament, which was in recess ahead of the referendum, for a special tribute to Cox on Monday.

The killing of the 41-year-old mother-of-two outside the public library in Birstall in her West Yorkshire constituency has prompted an out-pouring of public grief.

Dee Collins, West Yorkshire’s police chief, said in a statement that police were “keeping an open mind” over the suspect’s motivation for the attack, but that Mair’s connection to right wing extremism and “mental heath services” were a “priority line of inquiry”.

He made his first crown court appearance before Mr Justice Sweeney via video link from top security Belmarsh prison.

A 77-year-old man remains in hospital after being injured trying to help Cox during the attack.

He was remanded in custody until his next appearance on Monday at the higher Old Bailey court in London, England’s central criminal court, and a psychiatric report has been requested.

Kim said since Jo Cox’s younger days,”all she wanted was everyone to be happy” and she “only saw good in people”.

On Friday, British Prime Minister David Cameron and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn jointly paid tribute to the slain MP, and called for greater tolerancein public debate.

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

The Remain and Vote Leave sides have suspended national campaigning in light of the death of Mrs Cox, who entered Parliament as MP for Batley and Spen in last year’s general election. The attacker stabbed her with a hunting knife and shot her as she lay on the ground.

Cox was attacked in the street in Birstall, near Leeds, at lunchtime on Thursday.

MPs, who had been on a special recess ahead of Thursday’s European Union vote, will return to the House of Commons on Monday to pay their respects.

Meanwhile, an aide told of how mother-of two Mrs Cox’s last words as she lay bleeding in the street were “my pain is too much”.

Thursday’s attack shocked the nation, uniting politicians in horror and leading to the suspension of hostilities in what had become increasingly bitter and ugly campaigning ahead of the June 23 referendum on the EU.