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Memorial to assassinated MP David Amess (photo from October 2021)
Photo: Henry Nicholls / REUTERS
The jury at the Old Bailey Criminal Court in London needed just 18 minutes to reach its decision: 26-year-old Ali Harbi Ali is guilty of the murder of British MP David Amess.
According to the public prosecutor, Ali is a fanatical Islamist.
The sentence is expected to be announced on Wednesday.
Judge Nigel Sweeney is expected to sentence the perpetrator to life imprisonment for murder and preparing terrorist acts.
Defendant showed no remorse
The 26-year-old had shown no remorse during the trial.
He killed Amess with numerous stab wounds on October 15, 2021 during a citizens' consultation hour.
The motive he cited was revenge for the conservative MP's approval of air strikes on Syria.
"I wanted him dead," Ali said during the trial, according to Reuters news agency.
The accused also stated that he originally wanted to join the "Islamic State" (IS) in Syria.
However, in 2017 he decided to launch an attack in the UK instead.
"For religious reasons," Ali refused to stand up during the sentencing hearing.
The murder had shocked and horrified the country and triggered a new debate about the safety of parliamentarians.
fek/dpa/Reuters
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