GUILTY UK - Conservative MP Sir David Amess, fatally stabbed, Essex, 15 Oct 2021 *arrest*

[Ched]

A post mortem examination found Sir David had 23 sharp force injuries including 21 stab wounds


In the next interview the following day he was asked about his comment in the previous interview of “I mean, I guess yeah, I killed an MP, and I done it.”

He said: “Oh God I sound stupid there. Nah… the way I worded it. It sounds like a Little Britain episode. Um, I just… yeah, it sounded like what a terrorist act is. I went into an MP’s surgery and I killed him, so with the idea of vengeance in a way, so I… guess we’ll get into that.”

Mr Little told the jury: “So again as he did at the scene making clear this was about revenge.”

 

[Ched]

Ali said he became self-radicalised in 2014-15, the prosecution told the court.

His initial focus was to make hijrah, but he “kept on going with life” and went to university.

In this second year at university, around 2016, he decided to drop out to focus on whether or not he was going to make hijrah or focus on carrying out an act of domestic terrorism.

Mr Little told the Old Bailey: “He considered he had an obligation to perform jihad in the United Kingdom.

“By 2021 the defendant conceded that he had run out of excuses for not carrying out an attack and he began to research targets.

“He decided his target would be the 523 MPs who carried out a vote to carry out airstrikes in Syria.

“He identified them using the website theyworkforus.com. His aim therefore was to ‘influence the politicians’.”

 

[Ched]

Mr Little QC said: “He said that in 2021 he considered carrying out an attack on an MP and tried to identify home addresses and, later, surgeries.

“He also attended the Houses of Parliament with a view to identifying where MPs left, but he noticed there were extensive security measures - the police were to his words ‘armed to the teeth’.

“In the previous month or two, the defendant said that he had searched on Twitter for ‘MPs surgeries’ and found a tweet from Sir David Amess about a surgery he had done with a contact number to make an appointment.

“He admitted that on a number of occasions he went out with a plan to ‘do something’ but then would come back home as he ‘bottled it’.

“He visited Mike Freer MP’s surgery in Finchley. That of course was a lot closer to home.”

Ali had also looked up pictures of Michael Gove’s home, but decided against attacking the prominent minister after learning Mr Gove had split up with his wife and the house had been sold.

 

[Ched]

The defendant said that he woke at 4am and was nervous.

He went to a mosque for prayers then “steeled himself” to travel to Leigh-on-Sea by train for his midday appointment.

He took with him a knife with a 12in blade he had purchased about five years ago from Argos ‘for maybe to carry out a terror attack’ for around £20.

Tom Little said: “Just pausing there. The defendant is therefore saying that for a period of about five years he has had a knife which was purchased in the possible contemplation that it would be used for a terror attack, as it was eventually used for just such an attack.”

As he was early, the defendant said he went and stared at the sea and read the Koran. He then walked to the Methodist Church and was shown in for his appointment. He said this about the murder:

You don’t send off a bunch of messages saying that you’re committing a terror attack if you don’t actually commit a terrorist attack…

I just remember stabbing him a few times in the places where I stabbed him and I think the finisher was probably on his neck over here – at his jugular – because when I pierced it, dark red blood came out, so at that point I knew that unless the ambulance get here within the next second he’s gonna bleed out….

I think where I wanted to hit his neck, y’know when you kill, even Islamically you’re supposed to do it in the best way. You hit them in the neck, even if they don’t die straight away, they pass out pretty quickly… I did get him a couple of times in the abdomen. I don’t know if it hit like his aorta or anywhere like that.

And then I remembered some videos from the Islamic State a long time ago where they speak about how to carry out a stabbing attack, so then it was like I was thinking of arteries, so his femorals, I don’t know if I got him there and eventually I was able, sort of, to get him in a position where I got his neck and I was able to put the knife down.

 

[Ched]

(Appears sister was on his phone)


The defendant described how he felt about killing a person and then said this:

Obviously I’ve killed someone… yesterday, there’s no doubt about that, but is still doesn’t really feel like it. Maybe it’s because I feel justified in what I’ve done y’know ? Most of the worry today has, sort of, been about my family, how they’re taking it, how they’re affected by it, y’know ?

They were crying on the phone. The only reason I dropped the knife in from of the police officer was ‘cos my sister was on the phone crying her eyes out… It was an intense situation… I’m not saying that it’s a small thing killing David but that’s the majority of my sort of feelings and thing towards my family, how they’re affected by it… their houses are probably going to be raided y’know…

 

[Ched]

The defendant, on five separate occasions, travelled by train to Michael Gove’s home address.

On Mar 9, 23 and 30, followed by on Jun 7 and 25.

The prosecution told the Old Bailey Ali’s bank card showed it was used on TfL services to travel to a station close to Mr Gove’s address,

Mr Little said he had travelled there five times and thought about attacking him.

 

[Ched]

(Pretty frightening for Gove to hear all this detail )


This was recovered from the notes section of Ali’s phone, alongside Mr Gove’s address, pictures of him jogging and images of the streets.

This, from May 2019, was still on his phone.

It states as follows:

Morning attack

1. If there is a press presence I can wait it out with them
   
   
2. See if he uses public transport or hired car
   
   
3. Bump into him jogging, best outcome
   
   
4. Least probability of seeing him
   

Evening attack

1. Ring on the doorbell
   
   
2. Cause a scene outside to lure him
   

Night Attack

1. Door is wooden and swings into house could be kicked in
   
   
2. Also glass next to lock open from through that
   

Scout on Wednesday

 

[Ched]

Ali also carried out similar reconnaissance in relation to MP Mike Freer, the prosecution said.

Mr Little QC said: “Indeed he was seen that day by Rachel Shawcross, Mike Freer’s election agent.

“She saw a person matching the defendant’s description staring into the surgery.

“The 17th September 2021 was a Friday and as I expect you may know that, for many years, has been a constituency day when MPs go back to their constituencies.”

 

[Ched]

Ali searched the following on his mobile phone:

1. Mike Freer MP’s website on a particular page where details of his surgeries were given on Sep 16, 24, 2 and 30 2021.
2. The UK Parliament’s webpage on MP’s surgeries on Sep 17 2021.
3. The Wikipedia page for Ben Wallace MP, the Secretary of State for Defence on Sep 21 2021
4. The Wikipedia page for the Parliamentary Constituency of Esher and Walton (the seat of Dominic Raab MP) and the Wikipedia page of Dominic Raab on Sep 22 2021.
5. The Wikipedia page for Sir Keir Starmer MP on Sep 25 2021.
6. The Wikipedia page for Richard Fuller MP on Sep 25 2021.
7. The Wikipedia page for Southend-On-Sea on Sep 27 2021.
8. The Wikipedia page for Sir David Amess on Sep 27 2021.
9. Sir David Amess MP’s own website on Sep 27 and 29 2021.
10. National Rail Enquiry and TheTrainline search for a journey from Barking to Leigh-on-Sea on Oct 14 2021

 

[Ched]

(The Reading attack )


Images were also recovered:

1. Screenshots of maps of Leigh-on-Sea.
2. Photographs of the front of the Palace of Westminster.
3. Of Michael Gove MP, including one standing at the front door of his home
4. Of a google maps walking route to Belfairs Methodist Church.
5. Screenshot of the Defendant’s surgery booking to see Sir David Amess.
6. Screenshot of postcodes in the Southend-On-Sea area.
7. Screenshot of the ‘Plans’ note, set out above.
8. An image of the terrorist attacker Khairi Saadallah and his three victims who he killed in Reading.

 

[Ched]

Additional electronic devices were found at the defendant’s home address in north west London when it was searched on Oct 16 2021.

A Lenovo laptop was recovered from the defendant’s bedroom, on the bed. It was forensically imaged and keyword searches conducted:

1. A number of google searches had been carried out for ‘david amess muslim’, ‘david amess surgery’, ‘david amess israel’.
2. David Amess’ twitter account had been viewed.
3. A number of websites had been viewed relating to David Amess including one that related to Sir David speaking at a Holocaust Memorial Day debate and another entitled Jewish Community: Contribution to the UK — [Sir David Amess in the Chair]: 13th June 2019: Westminster Hall debates.
4. Google searches for Michael Gove MP’s surgery
5. Searches for Belfairs Methodist Church and how to get there from his home.
6. Searches for ’10 Downing Street’, ‘conservative party conference’.
7. Various search results and webpages relating to MPs and their surgeries.

Mr Little QC told the jury that “in addition were a series internet links which speak for themselves as well as images of high profile terrorists” including Jihadi John.

Another laptop, a Toshiba laptop, contained Islamic State propaganda images and photographs of Michael Gove.

 

[Ched]

Finishing his opening remarks, Tom Little QC closed with five "important observations" for the jury.

This includes the fact that no mental health defence will be put forward in relation to Ali Harbi Ali, the Crown told the Old Bailey.

He said:

1. First, the prosecution bring this case and it is for the prosecution to prove it. They do that by making you sure of the guilt of the defendant on the counts that you are considering.
   
   
2. Second, in a case such as this involving allegations of murder of an MP and its association with terrorism it is inevitable that you may feel upset, shock, sympathy or concern. However, what the we ask is that you assess all of the evidence dispassionately in order to return a true verdict according to the evidence.
   
   
3. Third, what we ask is that you apply cool logic and sound common sense to that evidence. You do so considering all of the evidence. Not in silos or compartments but together… and if you do that, you will not go wrong.
   
   
4. Fourth, no mental health or psychiatric defence or partial defence will be put before you on behalf of the defendant. So you can ignore that in this case. What the defendant did and what he intended were within his control. In short - he was responsible for his actions.
   
   
5. Fifth, and last of all, nothing that I say is evidence nothing that I have said or may say about the law is to be taken as you as definitive. The law is a matter upon which you will be directed by the judge in due course. But let me just invite you to consider the indictment again and just say something about the issues. I do so with the important caveat that you have heard no evidence yet.
   

 

[ZaZara]

Many thanks for posting, Ched.

Such a chilling report. I hope the MP's who were named, were informed beforehand.

 

[MajorHoople]

Sir David Amess 'killer' allegedly apologised to slain MP before stabbing him to death, court hears | Daily Mail Online

"A 'warped and twisted' Islamist terrorist accused of murdering Sir David Amess 'pulled out a knife' and 'said sorry' to the slain MP before stabbing him 21 times, a court has heard.

Ali Harbi Ali had allegedly thought he would die a martyr's death after the attack but was instead bundled to the floor and restrained by two unarmed PCs after allegedly stabbing Sir David to death at a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex on 15 October last year.

Ali allegedly considered killing an MP for years and carried out six separate reconnaissance trips to Michael Gove's home, the Old Bailey heard today.

Ali had also conducted online 'research' on Dominic Raab, Keir Starmer and Tory MP Richard Fuller before the alleged attack.

He planned his attack on Communities Secretary Mr Gove in a series of chilling phone notes, the court heard. He considered posing as a journalist but said the 'best outcome' would be 'bumping into him' on a morning jog.

Plans for a night attack included 'luring' him out by ringing the doorbell or 'causing a scene outside', it is claimed. Another note read: 'Door is wooden and swings into house, could be kicked in.'"

 

[JerseyGirl]

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/a...s-into-knife-murder-of-british-lawmaker-amess


Trial Opens Into Knife Murder of British Lawmaker Amess

 

[Luwin]

A terror suspect had a look of "self-satisfaction" moments after stabbing an MP to death, a parliamentary aide said.

The trial previously heard how Mr Ali had spent years plotting an attack, researching a range of potential victims including high-profile politicians Michael Gove, Dominic Raab and Sir Keir Starmer, before choosing the 69-year-old backbencher.

David Amess killing: Suspect looked 'self-satisfied' after attack

 

[Luwin]

The man accused of killing veteran MP Sir David Amess told police he committed a "terror" crime, a court heard.

Sir David, the MP for Southend West, died after he was stabbed 21 times during a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on 15 October.

Ali Harbi Ali, 26, denies charges of murder and preparing acts of terrorism.

Body-worn camera footage of a stand-off between the suspect and two unarmed police officers was shown to jurors.

PCs Scott James and Ryan Curtis entered Belfairs Methodist Church armed only with a baton and incapacitant spray, despite being warned the suspect had a knife.

PC Curtis told the jury they found Mr Ali standing in the aisle of the church with a blood-stained knife in his hand.

David Amess killing: Suspect 'admitted terror crime to police'

 

[Luwin]

'Drop the knife!': Bodycam shows moment of terror suspect arrest

Jurors have been shown footage of the moment two police officers tackled a knife-wielding terror suspect accused of murdering Sir David Amess MP.

PCs Scott James and Ryan Curtis entered Belfairs Methodist Church armed only with a baton and incapacitant spray, the court was told, despite being warned the suspect had a knife.

PC Curtis told the jury they found Mr Ali standing in the aisle of the church with a blood-stained knife in his hand.

Body-worn footage from PC James was played to the court and showed the officer deciding against waiting for backup from a team with a Taser.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Sir David Amess murder trial - live updates: Court shown bodycam footage of officers warning public; MP had 23 wounds to cheek, neck and chest

 

[Luwin]

The man accused of murdering Sir David Amess MP told police only hours afterwards that it was a terrorist attack, a court heard.

Sir David, the MP for Southend West, died after he was stabbed more than 20 times during a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on 15 October.

Ali Harbi Ali, 26, denies charges of murder and preparing acts of terrorism.

The trial at the Old Bailey heard how Mr Ali told police officers he "killed an MP".

Jurors were told that in his first police interview at Southend Police Station, he was asked by PC Jody Grogan: "Mr Ali, is this a terrorist attack?"

To which he replied: "I mean, I guess yeah I killed an MP and I done it yeah."

David Amess killing: Ali Harbi Ali told police 'I done it, I killed an MP'