A FANATICAL terrorist who stabbed MP Sir David Amess to death will die in prison after today being jailed for the bloody slaying.

Extremist Ali Harbi Ali, 26, has been sentenced to a whole life order for killing the MP for Southend West during a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex.

Ali was convicted of the murder of the MP on Monday, as well as preparing terroris acts, by jurors who spent just 18 minutes considering the case at the Old Bailey. 

University drop-out Ali was handed a whole life sentence for the killing by Mr Justice Sweeney, and will never be released.

He put forward no mitigation to the court, with Sir David's family choosing to keep their victim impact statements private.

Justice Sweeney branded Ali “cowardly” for his refusal to accept his guilt and putting Sir David’s family through the ordeal of a trial. 

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He said: “I express the court’s sincere admiration of the brave and dignified way the family have handled their loss and the ordeal of the trial, that was brought upon them by the defendant’s cowardly refusal to accept his guilt.

“Sir David had done nothing whatsoever to justify the attack on him. On the contrary, he had devoted 38 years of his life to the service of the public.

"He engaged in doing it when he was murdered. The loss is one of national significance.

"This was a murder that struck at the heart of our democracy."

Current whole-lifers include sexual predator Wayne Couzens, who raped and murdered Sarah Everard, and far-right extremist Thomas Mair, who killed Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016.

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Ali was also handed a concurrent life sentence with a minimum of 30 years for the terrorism offences, and smiled as he was led to the cells.

The Islamic State fanatic attacked the backbench Conservative MP in October last year after posing as someone considering moving to the area. 

Callous Ali told the trial that he had no regrets about the killing, believing that Sir David deserved to die because of how he voted for airstrikes on Syria in 2014 and 2015. 

The Old Bailey heard that Ali became known to authorities in 2014 and was referred to the Government’s Prevent strategy – but he continued his violent fantasies in secret. 

Twisted Ali stabbed Sir David more than 20 times, telling the dad-of-five he was “sorry” before plunging the 12 in carving knife into him. 

The so-called "lone wolf" sent a manifesto on WhatsApp to family and friends seeking to justify his actions around the time of the attack.

Disturbing recordings of the sick killer calmly admitting his crimes have now been released by police.

He even told cops how to spell his victim’s name, before detailing the run-up to the brutal slaying on October 15 in broad daylight.

We were in no hesitation that this was an act of terrorism, just as was the case in the tragic murder of Jo Cox.

Chilling CCTV shows Ali making his way to Essex from North London before carrying out the horrific murder.

Ali admitted that the incident was “terror” and bragged that he had “killed an MP” to horrified detectives.

The court heard that he travelled 50 miles by train to carry out the cold-blooded killing, after learning that he could see politicians in person at surgeries.

He emailed the MP’s assistant, falsely claiming that he had moved to the area to get an appointment with Sir David.

Julie Cushion, Sir David Amess’ aide who was present at the time of the killing, said that she will never forget his screams. 

She told the court: “I have had to drive by the church of Sir David’s death nearly every day as it’s close to where I live. It’s a constant reminder of what happened. 

'CONSTANT REMINDER'

“I have a huge sense of guilt as I booked the venue. I can never get that scream out of my mind when Sir David was attacked.

“I remember that awful feeling of distress while we waited for help, feeling helpless and hopeless.

"The expression on the perpetrator’s face has stayed with me all the time. A look of smug, self satisfaction.

“I now work for a new MP, but I also have the fear that she could be attacked.”

Ali waved the bloody knife and threatened to kill the MP's two female aides and a couple who had arrived for their appointment.

Sir David's assistant Julie Cushion told jurors he appeared "self-satisfied" in the wake of the brutal killing.

He told officers Sir David immediately suspected a "sting", having been duped into talking about a fake drug "cake" in the television series Brass Eye.

He went on: "I felt like one minute I was sat down at the table talking to him and the next he was, sort of, dead.

"But, yeah, it's probably one of the strangest days of my life now, y'know?"

Terrorist Ali admitted that he routinely stalked the Houses of Parliament, to see if he could target any unsuspecting MP’s as they left. 

But he was spooked by the dozens of armed police outside, explaining that they were “armed to the teeth". 

Cowardly Ali told cops that he had left home with the intention of undertaking a terror attak “quite a few times” – but had always “bottled it”.

Knife-wielding Ali was later apprehended by two police officers armed only with batons and spray at the time of the killing.

Essex Police Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow praised his officers' "astounding bravery" during the incident.

The court was told how London-born Ali had become self-radicalised in 2014, going on to drop out of university, abandoning ambitions for a career in medicine.

He comes from an influential Somali family and said he had a childhood "full of love and care".

The murdered admited that he considered travelling to Syria to fight but by 2019 opted for an attack in Britain.

We say he was the true example of a committed terrorist and exactly the type of people that we should be focusing our efforts on.

Ali bought a £20 knife from Argos six years ago, which he carried in his bag throughout the summer of 2021 as he "scoped out" possible targets.

Ali carried out online research on MPs including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.

He staked out the west London home of Levelling Up Secretary Mr Gove six times and wrote detailed notes on how he might get to him.

Scenarios included mingling with media, bumping into him jogging, ringing his doorbell, and causing a scene to "lure" him out.

Ali rejected the plan after Mr Gove split up with his wife and was thought to have moved out of the family home.

He brazenly told cops: "It was so convenient to go to that address but I just, I don't know why I didn't do that one."

Ali was also spotted lurking outside Finchley MP Mike Freer's constituency office, jurors were told.

Mr Freer added that he had put in extra security measures he had put in place for himself and his staff after being informed by counter-terrorism police he had been targeted.

He said "Since the news of the attack and subsequent visit by police I have been much more mindful of people around me.

"I have been very aware I was potentially at risk from the individual responsible for the attack."

'COMMITTED TERRORIST'

Detective Chief Superintendent Dominic Murphy said: "He spent some time in Prevent and then came out of Prevent and by his own admission, carried on his activity in secret over many years, forming his plan and conducting reconnaissance and focusing his efforts on many MPs.

"We say he was the true example of a committed terrorist and exactly the type of people that we should be focusing our efforts on."

Jurors were told Ali had no mental health issues and he accepted much of the evidence against him, though he denied both charges.

Sir David's family sat in the well of the court, just metres from Ali in the dock, who refused to stand up "on religious grounds" when convicted.

The MP was killed five years after Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox was murdered in her constituency.

Ali joins Far-right extremist Thomas Mair amongst the handful of prisoners in England and Wales subject to a whole-life order.

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Max Hill QC, Director of Public Prosecutions said: "We were in no hesitation that this was an act of terrorism, just as was the case in the tragic murder of Jo Cox."

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle added that MPs and political staff remain "traumatised" by the atrocity, and continue to struggle amid fears for their security.

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