- Jo Cox was stabbed and then shot outside constituency surgery in June
- Days later, Craig Mackinlay, South Thanet MP, got threat on Facebook
- Post said: ‘Another MP that needs,’ followed by a gun and knife emojis
- But CPS dropped the charges as he was due to appear in court today
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Prosecutors have dropped the case against a man who posted an apparent death threat on a Tory MP’s Facebook page just days after Jo Cox was murdered. Mark Verier was accused of posting the words ‘Another MP that needs,’ followed by gun and knife emojis on South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay’s Facebook page. The threat was posted less than a week after Labour MP Jo Cox, 41, was stabbed multiple times and then shot just before a constituency surgery on June 16.
Prosecutors have dropped the case against a man who posted an apparent death threat on a Tory MP’s Facebook page just days after Jo Cox (pictured) was murdered
The threat was posted less than a week after Labour MP Jo Cox, 41, was stabbed multiple times and then shot just before a constituency surgery on June 16
Mr Mackinlay, who used to be the deputy leader of Ukip and campaigned for Brexit, said the comment was made ‘in appalling taste’ and called Kent Police. Mark Verier was charged with sending offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing communications, and bailed to appear at Margate Magistrates’ Court today. He told the court that the post was ‘a sick joke’
But it has emerged that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has now dropped the case against Verier, 28, from Ramsgate.
A Kent Police spokesman said: ‘Kent Police investigated a report of offensive or threatening comments being made on a social media post.
‘Having investigated the case the evidence was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service, who authorised a charge of malicious communications against the suspect.
Mr Mackinlay (pictured, right, winning his seat in the May election), who used to be the deputy leader of Ukip, said the comment was made ‘in appalling taste’ and called Kent Police
‘However, the CPS has since taken the decision to not continue with court proceedings.’
A CPS statement said: ‘The CPS received a file of evidence from Kent Police regarding an allegation of malicious communication and, based on this, a decision was made to charge Mr Verier.
‘As with all cases, it was subject to further review and the decision was taken that it did not meet the high threshold for prosecuting such offences.
Therefore, the case was discontinued.’
Mr added: ‘CPS decisions are a matter for them but I’m very grateful to Kent Police for handling this matter with the seriousness and professionalism it warranted.
‘I am continuing to upgrade security for my staff and family who face the brunt of attacks from so-called “cyber-thugs”.’
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