‘He wasn’t remorseful, it was like – I’ve achieved something’: Witness recalls smirk’ of terror suspect accused of killing MP David Amess in knife horror
- Ali Harbi Ali, 26, had a look of ‘self satisfaction’ on his face after he allegedly stabbed Tory MP Sir David Amess to death at a constituency surgery last year
- Witnesses told the jury at the Old Bailey he showed ‘no remorse’ after the attack
- Ali allegedly said he carried out the attack for people killed in Syria and Iraq
- Ali denies murder and preparing acts of terrorism and the trail continues
The ‘terrorist’ accused of stabbing Tory MP Sir David Amess to death showed ‘no remorse’ after the attack, a court heard yesterday.
Ali Harbi Ali, 26, acted like he had ‘achieved something’ and had a look of ‘self-satisfaction’ on his face, witnesses to the knifing at a constituency surgery said.
As Sir David lay on the floor with 21 stab wounds, Ali is alleged to have said: ‘He deserved to die. I wanted to kill David because I want to kill every MP, whoever voted for the bombing of Syria and the Iraqi war.’
Ali Harbi Ali, 26, acted like he had ‘achieved something’ and had a look of ‘self-satisfaction’ on his face, witnesses to the knifing at a constituency surgery said
The jury at the Old Bailey heard dramatic testimony from two of Sir David’s aides and a couple who were arriving for a surgery appointment.
The veteran MP’s Westminster assistant Rebecca Hayton told police Ali seemed ‘relaxed’ after tricking his way into Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on October 15 on the pretence he was moving to the area from north London.
She said Ali started grilling Sir David, 69, about his voting record on Iraq when his mobile phone rang.
In a police interview played to the jury, Miss Hayton said: ‘[Ali] just said “sorry”, I thought he was saying sorry for the phone disturbing him but then he just reached in and got the knife. He just leaned straight over the table and then stabbed him in the stomach and then David screamed very loudly.’
She alerted political aide Julie Cushion, who ran in to help. Asked how Ali looked after the attack, Miss Cushion told the jury: ‘Self-satisfaction is how I would describe it.’
Constituents Yvonne Eaves and Darren King, who were arriving for an appointment, ran inside and allegedly saw Ali clutching a 12-inch knife, warning them not to come closer.
Mr King told police he spoke to Ali to ‘calm him down’ and, when he asked why he had attacked Sir David, was told it was for ‘all the innocent people’ killed in Syria and Iraq.
Miss Eaves said: ‘[Ali] seemed – he knew what he’d done, like he’d achieved something, like he was “I’ve done it”. He wasn’t remorseful, he wasn’t “oh my God”.’ Ali denies murder and preparing acts of terrorism.
The trial continues.
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