Ali Harbi Ali sentenced to life for murdering Sir David Amess
Ali Harbi Ali stabbed the Southend West MP to death last year
Last updated 13th Apr 2022
Ali Harbi Ali has been given a whole life sentence for the murder of Tory MP Sir David Amess.
The 26 year old from Kentish Town heard his fate at The Old Bailey in London.
The jury took just 18 minutes on Monday to unanimously find the self-radicalised Islamic State supporter guilty, although Ali refused to stand in the dock to hear the verdict, for, what he claimed were 'religious' reasons.
During his trial, Ali told the court he'd wanted to travel to Syria to join Islamic State but it was too "difficult" so decided to "help Muslims here" instead.
He chose to target veteran Southend West MP, Sir David, over his voting record in favour of airstrikes on Syria between 2014 and 2015, but had previously considered other targets including MPs Michael Gove and Michael Freer.
The killer, who was described as "cold and calculating", told the Old Bailey he had no regrets about the murder, and had wanted to die as a "martyr", assuming he'd be shot by police following the murder.
Local MPs are reacting to the sentencing
Anna Firth, who took over Sir David's constituency Southend West, tweeted a statement:
James Duddridge, Conservative MP for neighbouring constituency, Rochford and Southend East, also paid tribute:
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 under false pretences, 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.