Man charged with murder of British lawmaker Jo Cox
Thomas Mair has been charged with killing Cox, 41, a member of the leftist opposition Labour Party and supporter of Britain staying in the EU.
who was shot and stabbed to death in the street in her own electoral district in northern England on Thursday.
Cox was targeted in the attack as she prepared to hold a regular session to give advice to constituents.
A 77-year- old man who intervened to try to protect Cox remains in hospital in a stable condition after suffering a serious injury to his abdomen.
Mair, who lives in the town of Birstall, in Yorkshire, where Cox was slain, will appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates on Saturday charged with murder, causing grievous bodily harm and offences related to possession of a firearm.
Cox’ killing has 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.
On Friday, Prime Minister David Cameron joined Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in laying flowers in Birstall.
“It is a vile act that has killed her,” Corbyn said.
Cameron has agreed to recall parliament on Monday to allow lawmakers pay tributes to the popular lawmaker who had only been elected to parliament in 2015.
The murder has sparked debate in Britain, which has strict gun controls, about the safety of lawmakers, the heightened tempo of political confrontation and whether the slaying would affect the outcome of the EU referendum.
Both sides in the referendum contest have put on hold their national campaigns until at least Sunday.
Polls have suggested the vote is on a knife edge but in the last week had indicated that the campaign to leave the EU had been taking the lead.
A t elephone survey by BMG for Scotland’s
newspaper on Saturday showed the “Remain” camp on 53% support and “Leave” on 47%, although a separate online poll by BMG showed Leave leading by 10 points, with 55% support compared to Remain’s 45%.