Ann Widdecombe was hit on head repeatedly with hammer, court told

Ann Widdecombe was hit on head: ack, Court Hears Wanderstayfinder.com – Joshua Kerry, a 28-year-old man, has formally appeared before Westminster

Former Politician Murdered in Home Attack, Court Hears

Wanderstayfinder.com – Joshua Kerry, a 28-year-old man, has formally appeared before Westminster magistrates court facing murder charges connected to the death of Ann Widdecombe. The victim, a 78-year-old former Conservative minister and current Reform UK spokesperson, was allegedly killed at her residence in Haytor, Devon, during the first week of July. Prosecutors allege that Kerry struck Widdecombe’s head with a hammer on twenty-one separate occasions during the assault.

During a short hearing on Tuesday afternoon, Kerry made minimal statements, only confirming his personal details including his name, birth date, and current address. He was observed wearing a grey sweatshirt paired with tracksuit bottoms throughout the proceedings. Security camera recordings from the property suggest the fatal attack occurred on 8 July, according to evidence presented to the court.

Details of the Attack and Aftermath

According to court testimony, Kerry arrived at Widdecombe’s bungalow by car from his residence in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. He is believed to have entered through the front door while the former politician was consuming her midday meal. Prosecutor Kashif Malik stated that Kerry remained inside the property for approximately two minutes before departing in a vehicle, during which time he allegedly removed Widdecombe’s wallet from her handbag.

The alarm was reportedly raised when Widdecombe failed to appear for a scheduled online interview with Matt Allwright for Channel 5’s program, occurring shortly before 1pm. Producers from the television show attempted multiple times to reach both Widdecombe and her personal assistant without success. Her gardener discovered her lying face down on the kitchen floor on the morning of 9 July. Emergency services arrived and declared her dead at the scene.

A pathologist provided a provisional cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head. Kerry was initially arrested on suspicion of murder on 11 July by Devon and Cornwall police officers after being connected to a red Vauxhall Corsa spotted outside the bungalow shortly before the incident.

Terrorism Investigation and Legal Proceedings

The case subsequently came under the jurisdiction of counter-terrorism officers, who rearrested Kerry on suspicion of the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism. Investigators are currently examining whether political or terrorism-related motives may have driven the attack.

Later on Tuesday, Kerry appeared before Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb at the Old Bailey, where he was denied bail and remanded in custody. A case management hearing has been scheduled for 9 October, with a provisional trial date set for 8 June 2027.

On Tuesday morning, an inquest into Widdecombe’s death commenced in Exeter. Philip Spinney, the senior coroner for Devon, Plymouth, and Torbay, confirmed the timing and date of the former MP’s passing. He read a brief statement before suspending proceedings until the criminal case concludes.

“The circumstances of the death are as follows: concerns were raised that Miss Widdecombe was uncontactable. So, an employee who was due at the home address was asked to conduct a welfare check. Miss Widdecombe was located within her property. She was found to be unresponsive, and with visible injuries.”

“The emergency services were called, and she was sadly declared deceased at the scene. A postmortem examination has taken place, and at this stage the precise medical cause of death has yet to be established.”

Coroner Spinney acknowledged Widdecombe’s political career, noting she served as the Conservative MP for Maidstone and the Weald, previously Maidstone, from 1987 until 2010. In 2019, she switched to the Brexit party and became an MEP, later serving as immigration and justice spokesperson for its successor organization, Reform UK.

“It is plain that Miss Widdecombe was much loved and will be greatly missed, and it’s important that we all understand the impact the loss of life has had on those who mourn,” Spinney said. “A court could appear a harsh and clinical setting for what is an intensely private matter, the death of a loved one. I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the family of Miss Widdecombe.”