Sir David Amess’ aide has described the “piercing scream” she heard when her boss was stabbed at Belfairs Methodist Church and her alleged killer's "self-satisfaction" after the attack.

       Julie Cushion, the politician's constituency assistant, was in the waiting area when she heard the scream followed by a “very loud crash, which I assumed was furniture going over”.

       She became emotional at the Old Bailey, and was offered a glass of water by the prosecution’s Tom Little QC as she struggled to get her words out in the witness stand.

       Ms Cushion was asked how Ali Harbi Ali appeared to her after allegedly stabbing Sir David Amess to death.

       Her answer, as she became emotional, was: “Self-satisfaction, is how I’d describe it”. She went on: “I knew when the paramedics went running, that was the moment.”

       The "committed" terror suspect who researched what Muslims should do if their death is approaching before stabbing an MP to death is back in court facing charges of murder.

       Ali Harbi Ali, 26, is accused of murdering Southend West MP Sir David Amess at his constituency surgery and plotting other acts of terrorism.

       The Old Bailey heard how Ali, who denies the charges and has worn the same black robe for the first three days of the trial, also looked up the address of a Muslim burial ground just hours before the alleged murder.

       Follow the trial live below.

       Ms Hayton said that Ali turned the conversation towards politics, which annoyed her boss because it was not the purpose of these meetings.

       She told police: He basically started talking about politics in a general sense, and that automatically got David’s back up a bit.”

       The aide then said Ali told the MP “I’ve come here about what you can do for the town, what your ideas are for the long term and short term future of the town.

       “That’s what got his back up a bit, he got a bit funny - he’s been an MP for 30-odd years.”

       She reiterated that the purpose of the meetings were to talk about specific issues.

       Ali had his phone in his hand, and was playing with it, scrolling through WhatsApp before he put the phone on the table, Ms Hayton said.

       Ms Hayton recalled: “He was really relaxed and chatty, all about him moving. He said he moved from Kentish Town, but grew up in Croydon.”

       She said Sir David Amess asked Ali if he was recording their conversation, but the defendant said no, showing the MP his phone.

       Ms Hayton told officers: “I think then David said, ‘What made you move to Southend?’ and he said that he trained as a radiographer and some of his friends were stationed in Southend Hospital and he had friends who stayed at hotels funded by the university.

       “He said he was 25. And then he said, ‘So I’ve moved down here to work at Southend Hospital.”

       She said Sir David asked Ali if he had moved down with family.

       The response, Ms Hayton said, was: “No, by myself - I want to get settled before I start any of that.”

       The last thing Sir David Amess did before the appointment with his alleged killer was sign birthday cards for his constituents.

       Rebecca Hayton said she gave the cards to another member of staff and then made eye contact with the suspected terrorist Ali Harbi Ali.

       She told police officers in an interview played to the Old Bailey: “I gave them to her, he was sat right in front of me.

       “He was sitting, he smiled and said, ‘do you want to come through then’.”

       Ms Hayton and Ali made small talk as they walked through the church to the vestry room.

       “We were just chatting, I think I said how are you, and have you moved in now?” she said.

       She recalled Ali telling her that he was “just getting used to the area… it’s nice, it’s much quieter than London”.

       With that, they entered the room.

       Ali Harbi Ali’s vagueness when trying to book an appointment for Sir David Amess’ constituency surgery was a red flag, the aide who approved his slot told police officers.

       In an interview played at the Old Bailey, Rebecca Hayton talked about how Ali had emailed to ask for an appointment because he was moving to the area and wanted to meet his MP.

       She told officers: “We’re always a bit…when they can’t talk about why they want to come- when it’s more general.” Ms Hayton said that she asked the defendant for more details, which is when he feigned an interest in Christianity and churches, the Crown say.

       This satisfied Ms Hayton, she told police.

       The aide who witnessed Sir David Amess being stabbed to death was working in his home throughout lockdown, she told police officers.

       In an interview played at the Old Bailey, Rebecca Hayton was asked what her official title was, and she told them: “I don’t think I have an official title.”

       Before Covid she said she was based in Westminster, but as MPs worked from home during the pandemic, Sir David’s home in Essex became her office.

       The jury was played a video of a police interview with Rebecca Hayton, Sir David Amess’ Westminster aide, who is the next witness in the trial.

       She played with her fingers as she gave evidence to officers at Rayleigh police station in Essex.

       She described how she drove to Sir David’s home and they took his car to the constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church.

       Describing the vestry room where Sir David was stabbed to death, she said there was a big desk, chairs either side of it, and that she was sat next to him throughout the incident.

       Julie Cushion was asked how Ali Harbi Ali appeared to her after allegedly stabbing Sir David Amess to death.

       Her answer, as she became emotional, was: “Self-satisfaction, is how I’d describe it”.

       She went on: “I knew when the paramedics went running, that was the moment.”

       Sir David Amess’ aide told the jury of the “piercing scream” she heard when her boss was stabbed at Belfairs Methodist Church.

       Julie Cushion was in the waiting area when she heard the scream followed by a “very loud crash, which I assumed was furniture going over”.

       She became emotional, and was offered a glass of water by the prosecution’s Tom Little QC as she struggled to get her words out in the witness stand.

       Ms Cushion then saw Sir David’s Westminster staffer Rebecca Hayton running towards her, saying the MP had been stabbed and was on the floor.

       She told the jury: “I went to grab my phone, but I froze in the moment. She had to shout at me ‘999’.”

       Sir David Amess was passionate about being accessible to his constituents, especially after Covid lockdowns, one of his aides told the Old Bailey.

       Julie Cushion said that during the pandemic, constituency surgeries were held over Teams, Zoom or video call.

       She told the jury: “Before Covid, he would tend to hold them in the constituency office, but after Covid he was very aware he wanted to be closer to constituents, so decided to go out into the constituency to be more accessible.”

       The first witness at the Old Bailey on Wednesday morning is Julie Cushion.

       She was Sir David Amess’ constituency assistant at the time of his death.

       Giving her evidence from behind a screen, she tells the jury that she got to know Sir David when she was a local councillor.

       Around six or seven years ago, he asked her to join his staff, to which she “happily” agreed.

       Ms Cushion said: “I’m proud to say he became a good friend.”

       The defendant has been brought into the dock, the glass walls of which have been covered in paper screens at the request of the witnesses due to give evidence.

       Ali Harbi Ali is wearing the same black robe as he has been wearing since the beginning of the trial.

       Unlike on days one and two, he is not wearing any glasses, and has a black face mask covering his mouth and nose.

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