At the start of Thomas Mair's trial for murder, the Old Bailey heard how the politician's assistant Fazila Aswat pleaded with her to think of her children in an attempt to keep her alive.

A post-mortem examination showed that Mrs Cox had been stabbed a total of 15 times and the wounds penetrated her heart, lungs, stomach and liver.

She had also been shot three times - once in the lower chest and twice in the head.

Mair repeatedly said the words “Britain first” as he carried out the attack, Richard Whittam QC, prosecuting, told the Old Bailey on Monday. He struck as Cox went about her business in her constituency during the EU referendum campaign.

Mrs Cox had gunshot wounds to her hands consistent with attempts to defend herself.

Mair denies the four charges against him - murder, possession of a firearm with intent, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and carrying an offensive weapon.

The 53-year-old unemployed gardener declined to enter a plea when he appeared at the Old Bailey last month. As a consequence, not guilty pleas to all the charges were entered on his behalf.