Trial date set for UK man accused of murdering Jo Cox MP

Wreaths are laid on the ground in commemoration of murdered member of parliament Jo Cox in London, June 23, 2016. [Photo by Jiang Shan/China Daily]

Thomas Mair, the man accused of murdering British member of parliament Jo Cox, will go on trial on November 14 and the case will be dealt with as a terrorism trial, a judge told the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court of England and Wales on Thursday.

For the second time this week Mair appeared via video link from the high-security prison at Belmarsh, east London, and only spoke to confirm his name. At a Monday hearing Mair declined to submit a bail application to the court.

During a 15-minute hearing Thursday morning, Mr Justice John Saunders said the case would be treated as a terrorism trial for "case management purposes." Mair's preliminary hearing was held at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London last Saturday, where he gave his name as "death to traitors, freedom for Britain" during proceedings.

Cox, a 41-year-old mother of two who became a Labour member of parliament in 2015, was stabbed and shot outside her constituency surgery in Yorkshire last Thursday, and 77-year-old Bernard Kenny suffered a stab wound to the abdomen while attempting to defend her.

Bystanders said Cox's assailant shouted the name of a right-wing anti-immigration group during the attack. Cox was a strong advocate of refugee and human rights and was active on the Remain campaign trail for Britain's referendum on its EU membership.

Mair is charged with murder, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, and grievous bodily harm.

Contact the reporter at angus@mail.chinadailyuk.com