Neo-Nazi terror suspect tells court Swastika-covered shawl was "pagan religious" item.
Alice Cutter, 22, from Sowerby Bridge, also claimed a set of dangling earrings, shaped like the Nazi-era symbol, were purchased by her from a "pagan" shop in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius.
- > Neo-Nazi terror suspect from Yorkshire sent offensive images involving prophet Muhammed court told
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Hide AdThe 22-year-old, who is accused of being a member of the banned far right terrorist group National Action, added that she posed with what appeared to be an assault rifle, because it made a "cool pic".
Cutter, who described herself as an "animal-lover" and a vegan, is on trial accused of being a member of the organisation, alongside her boyfriend Mark Jones, also of Sowerby Bridge, Halifax, West Yorkshire, and two other men.
Giving evidence for a second day at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday, she was asked about earrings she was wearing in a photograph found on Cutter's Samsung mobile phone, with the caption "Still the best earrings in the world!"
"They were my earrings," said Cutter.
"I got them from a pagan religious shop in the centre of Vilnius, in Lithuania."
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Hide AdHer barrister, Liam Walker, then asked her about a "Swastika shawl", which she was also pictured wearing, in a photo found on her phone.
She replied: "That was mine.
"I was given it in Lithuania by a friend we were visiting.
"I believe it's Latvian design but again it is pagan religious, I'm not wearing it to offend.
"I like it because it's part of a religion I appreciate."
Asked about an image of her holding what appeared to be an assault rifle, she told the jury: "It's not a rifle, as far as I'm aware.
"I think it's some sort of replica thing - my friend took it from his nan's house after she died, I don't think its real because it doesn't work, but if it does, it could be described as an air rifle.
"Its not a gun, not like an actual gun."
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Hide AdAsked why she wanted to "pose with an assault rifle", by Mr Walker, she replied: "I really can't tell you the logic behind it, I just thought it looked like it might make a cool pic.
"It wasn't to threaten or upset anybody."
She added: "Much in the same way rappers pose with what can be perceived as a firearm, but I never thought this would be perceived to be a serious thing.
"I feel if you look at it you can tell it's not a real gun, that's what I think anyway."
Under cross-examination by Barnaby Jameson QC, for the prosecution, Cutter was asked if she had a "violent mindset".
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Hide AdCutter, who also said she had an interest in camping and mushrooms, replied: "I've said distasteful things, I've said some heinous things to be honest, but in reality, in real life, I have no violent mindset."
The waitress who has been giving evidence told jurors she "really didn't think" she ever was a member of the organisation, which was banned in December 2016, and certainly was not a member once it was out-lawed.
She told how when in York in May 2016, she pulled out ahead of a National Action demonstration in the city after suffering an anxiety attack, and instead went to the Disney store where she bought an Aristocats toy figure.
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Hide AdCutter claimed in evidence earlier this week that she was pestered into entering a Miss Hitler beauty pageant, where she personally cited National Action as introducing her to the far-right, in her entry form.
She was left "panicking" when her entry photograph, in which she was wearing a face mask under the contestant name "Buchenwald Princess" - referencing the Nazi-era death camp - ended up in the national newspapers.
The 22-year-old also described messages she sent about killing Jews as "just stupid dark humour" and "distasteful edginess", made in private.
Other remarks in which she sent a text message to her boyfriend Jones, which read "Kill, kill, kill" while talking about gassing synagogues, was just her "talking shit", she told the jury.
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Hide AdCutter and Jones, who is originally from Highbury, London, are on trial alongside Garry Jack, 23, of Heathland Avenue, Birmingham, and 18-year-old Connor Scothern, of Bagnall Avenue, Nottingham, accused of group membership.
All deny any wrong-doing and the trial continues.