'Homegrown terrorist' found guilty of murdering Sir David Amess in Southend
Ali Harbi Ali stabbed the MP to death last year
Last updated 11th Apr 2022
A jury has found Ali Harbi Ali guilty of murdering the former Southend MP Sir David Amess.
The 26 year-old from Kentish Town was also accused of preparing acts of terrorism - he was found guilty of that charge.
The jury deliberated for just 18 minutes before delivering a unanimously guilty verdict.
The Islamic State fanatic, who was described as "cold and calculating", told the Old Bailey he had no regrets about the murder, defending his actions by saying Sir David deserved to die as a result of voting in Parliament on air strikes in Syria in 2014 and 2015.
Mr Justice Sweeney said Ali, who refused to stand up in the dock on “religious grounds” as he was convicted, would be sentenced on Wednesday.
Sir David’s family sat in the well of the courtroom as the verdicts were delivered, just metres from Ali in the dock.
Director of Public Prosecutions Max Hill QC said the murder was “the most appalling tragedy”, particularly for the Amess family, and an “attack on democracy”.
He said: “I’m obviously pleased that at the end of what must have been a very difficult trial for Sir David Amess’s family, justice has been served and this individual will now pay the price for his crimes.”
What happened?
The Conservative MP was stabbed more than 20 times during a 'frenzied attack' at Belfairs Methodist Church on the 15th October 2021, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
He was holding a constituency surgery at the time.
The court heard how Ali had booked an appointment to see the MP but turned on him within five minutes of it starting.
The MP's Westminster assistant Rebecca Hayton described to police how Ali kept playing with his phone during the appointment, at which she was present, trying to talk about foreign policy despite father-of-five Sir David’s attempts to steer him towards local matters.
She said she then saw Ali stand up, say “sorry”, pull a knife from his clothing, and stab Sir David.
Two plain-clothed officers were first to arrive on the scene and arrested Ali within minutes of the attack.
It had been planned for a long time
The court heard how London-born Ali had become self-radicalised in 2014, going on to drop out of university, abandoning ambitions for a career in medicine.
The defendant, who came from an influential Somali family and said he had a childhood “full of love and care”, considered travelling to Syria to fight but by 2019 opted for an attack in Britain.
Ali bought a £20 knife from Argos six years ago which he carried in his bag throughout the summer of 2021 as he “scoped out” possible targets, jurors heard.
He carried out reconnaissance on the Houses of Parliament but found police there “armed to the teeth”.
Ali carried out online research on MPs including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
He staked out the west London home of Levelling Up Secretary Mr Gove six times and wrote detailed notes on how he might get to him.
Scenarios included mingling with media, bumping into him jogging, ringing his doorbell, and causing a scene to “lure” him out.
Ali rejected the plan after Mr Gove split up with his wife and was thought to have moved out of the family home.
He was later to tell police: “It was… so convenient to go to that address but I just, I don’t know why I didn’t do that one.”
Who was Sir David Amess?
Sir David Amess had been Southend West's local MP since 1997, and had previously served as MP for Basildon.
He was a prominent backbencher, serving on multiple select committees and championing causes including animal welfare and support for Endometriosis sufferers.
Sir David was also patron and president of the Music Man Project, a charity music education service those with disabilities.
His death also led to renewed concern around the safety of MPs.
He campaigned religiously for Southend to be made a city - something which was granted in his honour following his death.
The occasion was marked by a Royal visit from Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.