Jo Cox tried to shield face during shooting, jury hears

MP Jo Cox tried to shield her face with her hands as her killer shot her in the head, the Old Bailey has heard.

The 41-year-old Batley and Spen MP received 15 stab wounds and was shot three times in Birstall, West Yorkshire, on 16 June.

In statements read to the jury, ambulance staff told of how they gave the "unresponsive" MP emergency treatment at the scene, but she was pronounced dead at 13:48 BST.

Thomas Mair, 53, denies her murder.

Mr Mair, from Birstall, also denies grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon - a dagger.

'Multiple stab wounds'

Pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said that Mrs Cox had died "as a result of multiple stab and gunshot wounds".

Jurors were shown computer-generated images of the body as he gave evidence in court.

Dr Shepherd catalogued the stab wounds, including to the victim's chest cavity, stomach and hand, some of which he said had been inflicted with between "moderate and severe force".

The court also heard there had been a wound to her left hand that was a "through and through" entry and exit bullet hole.

Prosecutor Richard Whittam QC asked: "It could be consistent with the hand being raised to the face and the bullet going through?"

Dr Shepherd replied: "Indeed. It could be with any of the injuries but I think it makes more sense that the hands were up covering the face and the bullet has gone through the right hand and... into the head."

He continued: "I concluded that she received multiple stab wounds to the back, front and left side of the chest and abdomen.

"The stab wounds had penetrated her heart, left lung, stomach and liver."