Accused sent to psychiatrist after ‘death to traitors’ pledge
THE man accused of killing Jo Cox is to undergo a psychiatric assessment following a chilling courtroom outburst.
When asked to give his name, Thomas Mair said: ‘My name is death to traitors, freedom for Britain’.
The 52 year-old repeated the statement when asked his name for second time, prompting deputy chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot to order a mental health assessment.
It follows concerns over his treatment for mental health issues, after it emerged he had not received any formal care for five years – despite suffering from depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Mair – who is due to appear at the Old Bailey today having been remanded in custody since Saturday’s preliminary hearing – is reported to have appeared deeply disturbed just 24 hours before the attack, a health counsellor has revealed.
On Wednesday night he stumbled into a ‘well-being centre’ in Birstall, West Yorkshire, saying he was depressed and had been on medication for a long time.
His half brother, Duane St Louis, 41, has claimed Mair had obsessive compulsive disorder and cleaned himself with Brillo pads because he was ‘obsessed with his personal hygiene’.
Detectives are also investigating whether Mair had any links to farRight groups after they found ‘extreme Right-wing and white supremacist material’ at his home in Batley, West Yorkshire.
Mair appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday after he was charged with murdering Batley and Spen MP Mrs Cox, 41, and for possession of a firearm and a knife. He is also accused of causing grievous bodily harm to Bernard Kenny, 77, a passer-by who was stabbed while trying to save the mother of two.
Mair was flanked by two security guards as he was led handcuffed into the dock. After delivering the nine-word statement, he remained silent when asked his address and date of birth.
Following his declaration, Mrs Arbuthnot said: ‘Bearing in mind the name he has just given, he ought to be seen by a psychiatrist.’
David Cawthorne, prosecuting, told the court how on Thursday morning Mrs Cox had visited a school and a care home before travelling to Birstall library for a surgery for residents.
As she got out of her car she was ‘almost immediately’ approached by a man who ‘began to attack her with a knife’. Mr Kenny rushed to help but was stabbed in the stomach and forced to retreat to a nearby shop.
The attacker continued to stab Mrs Cox before taking a firearm from a black holdall and shooting her three times. ‘While doing that [her attacker] was heard to say words to the effect of “Britain first, keep Britain independent, Britain always comes first, this is for Britain”,’ said Mr Cawthorne.
Mr Mair was arrested a short distance away after being tackled by two police officers. He was said to be ‘lucid’ when questioned after being found fit for interview by two police doctors. But he has previously spoken of feeling ‘socially isolated and disconnected from society’ as a result of his long-term mental illness.
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust – the trust responsible for care in Mr Mair’s hometown – says it is unable to comment on an ongoing police investigation.
‘Socially isolated and disconnected’