Jo Cox's grieving husband branded her murderer "cowardice personified" as fascist killer Thomas Mair refused to give evidence at his Old Bailey trial.

Brendan Cox could not contain his rage and took to Twitter to react to Mair's decision to avoid explaining to a jury why he brutally murdered the mother-of-two.

Since the 41-year-old was fatally shot and stabbed near her constituency office in West Yorkshire in June, Mr Cox has focused on their two young children, but has also called for unity in the face of a global political swing to the right.

Appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, he highlighted the need to "define Britain in an inclusive way" rather than demonising immigrants or minorities.

As Mair's trial for his wife's murder began, Mr Cox tweeted a link to an article about the charity worker-turned-politician posthumously winning a peace prize, with the message: "As the trial starts I'd encourage everyone to remember Jo's life and what she stood for, not the manner of her death."

She focused on a message of unity in her maiden speech in the Houses of Parliament, in which she said her Batley and Spen constituency had been "deeply enhanced by immigration".

She went on: "While we celebrate our diversity, what surprises me time and time again as I travel around the constituency is that we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us."

Mrs Cox campaigned for refugees, and in a speech at the Global Citizen Festival in New York in September, Mr Cox told the crowd that his wife had been assassinated for her beliefs.

He said: "In June Jo was assassinated, killed for standing up for others. But her love and her values live on. I am Brendan Cox, and in honour of my wife, I and my family will always stand with refugees."

JO COX TRIAL - GUILTY: Neo-Nazi coward convicted of murder of MP

Mr Cox has said the "sheer cowardice and hatred" of her murderer did not represent "anything in our country".

He said there was a "contrast between the bravery of Jo" and "the cowardice of a man who attacks a 5ft woman" and then is "too scared to take to the dock".

In a pre-recorded interview released after Mair was found guilty of killing the 41-year-old MP, Mr Cox also said he would tell his children that their mother "fought for her values and her beliefs and that she died for them".

He said: "I think for me there is a contrast there between the bravery of Jo - what she stood for, what she fought for, and in her final moments asking her friends who were trying to help her to get away so that they wouldn't get hurt - with the cowardice of a man who attacks a 5ft tall woman with a gun and a knife, and then is too scared to take the dock and to account for his actions in court.

"So for me it's that contrast between the bravery and some of the best of us, with the sheer cowardice and hatred that I don't think represents anything in our country."

Asked what he would tell their two children about their mother, he told the BBC: "I will tell them that she was an amazing woman who was very widely loved and respected, that she fought for her values and her beliefs and that she died for them.

"That she loved them, first and foremost, and that she was funny and fun and adventurous."

Speaking outside the Old Bailey after the guilty verdict and the whole life sentence was handed to Mair, Mr Cox said: "A few weeks ago Jo was taken from us and our lives collapsed. To the world, Jo was a member of parliament, a campaigner, an activist and many other things.

"But first and foremost she was a sister, a daughter, an auntie, a wife, and above all a mum to two young children who love her with all their being.

"All their lives they have been enveloped in her love, excited by her energy and inspired by her example.

"We try now not to focus on how unlucky we were to have her taken from us, but how lucky we were to have her in our lives for so long."

He extended his thanks to well-wishers, adding: "This has been Britain at its best - compassionate, courageous and kind. It's given us great strength and solace."