Stephen Aylen told Sky News' Adam Boulton how the horrific stabbing of Sir David Amess was supposedly witnessed by the late MP's assistant who is now asking to be left alone to process what she saw. The former independent MP went on to plead "why pick on the nice guys?" as he struggled to comprehend his colleague had been murdered.

       Speaking to Sky News, Mr Aylen said: "She's in a terrible state. You can't imagine something like that happening.

       "She just wants to be left alone and I hope everyone will respect that.

       "That will never get out of her mind. It was sunny yesterday, you're in a lovely place where nothing happens.

       "The worst offence if you look on Facebook is someone putting their rubbish out a day before and then for that to happen."

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       He added: "I don't know any details or ask her any details and I wouldn't like to say anything because the police are going to investigate it and find out why.

       "But why pick on the nice guys?

       "You shouldn't pick on anyone but it's always the nice guys."

       Mr Aylen concluded: "When people pass on, everyone says they're fantastic but he was genuinely fantastic."

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       The comments come as Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Priti Patel, Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer and House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle visited Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea on Saturday, where Sir David Amess was stabbed to death, to pay their respects.

       The group laid flowers and gave tributes to the veteran politician outside the Church before being escorted from the scene by police.

       While speaking at Southend Police Station, the Home Secretary said: "We will carry on, we live in an open society, a democracy.

       "We cannot be cowed by any individual or any motivation... to stop us from functioning, to serve our elected democracy."

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       Sir David, 69, who had been an MP since 1983, was fatally injured while meeting constituents at his regular constituency surgery.

       A 25-year-old man arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder is in custody at an Essex police station.

       Official sources told the PA news agency the man is believed to be a British national with Somali heritage.

       Sir David Amess served as Member of Parliament for Southend West from 1997 until 2021. He is survived his wife, Julia, and five children.