Sir Davis Amess: Ali Harbi Ali to enter plea next month at Old Bailey in MP murder case

A provisional trial date has already been identified for March 7 next year
The order of service at a service to honour Sir David Amess (Jonathan Brady/PA)
PA Wire
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The alleged killer of Sir David Amess is set to enter his plea to murder and terrorism charges just before Christmas, the Old Bailey has heard.

Ali Harbi Ali, 25, is accused of stabbing to death the Conservative MP for Southend West during a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex on October 15.

He is also charged with preparing acts of terrorism between May 1 2019 and September this year, when it is said he carried out reconnaissance of two MPs and the House of Parliament.

Court artist sketch of Ali Harbi Ali (Elizabeth Cook/PA)
PA Wire

Ali joined a 12-minute hearing before Mr Justice Sweeney on Friday morning via videolink from HMP Belmarsh, speaking only to confirm his name.

The court heard he will be remanded in custody until a plea hearing which has been set for December 21.

Ali, from Kentish Town, is accused of plotting a terror attack between May 1, 2019 and September 28 this year by “engaging in reconnaissance of locations of targets to attack, including addresses associated with Members of Parliament and the Houses of Parliament”.

It is said he also “engaged in internet research relating to targets to attack”.

A provisional trial date for the case against Ali has already been identified for March 7 next year.

Ali is accused of travelling by train from his home in Kentish Town, north London, to attend Sir David’s surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church.

During the meeting, he was allegedly seen to use his mobile phone before standing up, producing a large knife from his pocket and repeatedly stabbing Sir David.

The veteran MP was pronounced dead at the scene at 1.10pm and a preliminary post-mortem report gave the cause of death as multiple stab wounds to the chest.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) alleges the murder has a terrorist connection because of its “religious and ideological” motives.

Ali has not yet entered pleas to the two charges he faces.

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