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LONDON, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- A 53-year-old unemployed gardener with far right-wing views faces life in prison after his conviction in the murder of British Member of Parliament Joe Cox. Justice Alan Wilkie said Thomas Mair will spend the rest of his life in prison because of the "exceptional seriousness" of his crime.
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Mair showed no emotion after the verdicts. He had not offered evidence in his own defense, declining to testify in court, but said he wished to address the court. The judge refused.
On June 16, Mair attacked Cox, 41, in Birstall, West Yorkshire. The Labor Party member was on her way to meet with voters to raise support for the campaign to remain in the European Union.
She was shot twice with a rifle -- in the head and chest -- and stabbed 15 times.
Mair also was found guilty of grievous bodily harm of a passer-by, Bernard Carter-Kenny, 77, who was stabbed when he rendered aid to Cox. Mair also was found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent and possession of a dagger.
The jury took around 90 minutes to reach its verdicts.
Jo's husband, Brendan Cox, said in a statement after the verdict: "The killing was in my view a political act and an act of terrorism. An act driven by hatred which has instead promoted an outpouring of love."
Following the verdicts, prosecutor Richard Whittam told the court that Mair had committed a terrorism offense though the jury was not asked to consider Mair's motivation.
"The sheer brutality of her murder and the utter cowardice of her murderer bring the two extremities of humanity face to face," Whittam said in his closing arguments.
Nazi memorabilia and books were found at his home along with the rifle linked to the crimes. Also, he had conducted an online search at a local library on extreme right wing groups.
Mair showed no reaction during the trial, staring straight ahead and rarely looking around.
When he appeared at the Old Bailey last month via video link from Belmarsh prison in southeast London, he refused to enter a plea.
Earlier in his first court appearance, he said "death to traitors -- freedom for Britain" when asked his name.
Defense attorney Russell Flint said in his closing speech: "It is you and you alone who have been charged with the responsibility in determining what are the true verdicts in each of the counts on the indictment."
