Ali Harbi Ali, 25, pleads not guilty to murder of Sir David Amess
A MAN has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conservative MP Sir David Amess who died in October.
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Ali Harbi Ali, 25, is accused of murdering the MP for Southend West on October 15. Sir David was stabbed during a constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex.
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Ali Harbi Ali, 25, is accused of murdering the MP for Southend West on October 15. Sir David was stabbed during a constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex.
Mr Harbi Ali is also charged with preparing acts of terrorism between May 1, 2019 and September 28 this year.
He entered not guilty pleas to the charges at a hearing before Mr Justice Sweeney at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.
The senior judge appeared remotely from Manchester Crown Court while Ali was in the dock at the Central Criminal Court in London.
The defendant, wearing a blue sweatshirt and grey jogging bottoms, had his arms crossed as he confirmed his identity and entered pleas without removing his face mask.
It is alleged that on the morning of October 15, Ali travelled by train from his home in Kentish Town, north London, and attended Sir David's surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church.
During the meeting, he allegedly produced a knife and repeatedly stabbed Sir David.
The veteran MP was pronounced dead at the scene at 1.10pm.
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Previously, a provisional trial date had been set at the Old Bailey for March 7 next year.
Following discussions with prosecutor Tom Little QC and defence barrister Tracy Ayling QC, Mr Justice Sweeney agreed to put the trial back to March 21.
Following the half-hour hearing, the defendant was remanded into custody.