Ann Widdecombe Killed With 21 Hammer Blows, Court Hears

Joshua Kerry, 28, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with murdering the former Tory minister and Reform UK spokeswoman at her Devon home. Detectives are still probing a possible political motive

Ann Widdecombe died after being struck 21 times over the head with a hammer, a prosecutor told Westminster Magistrates’ Court on today.
Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham in South Yorkshire, appeared in the dock charged with murdering the 78-year-old former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman. He wore a grey tracksuit, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address, and was remanded in custody to appear later the same day at the Old Bailey.
Prosecutor Kashif Malik told the court that Widdecombe had been due to appear on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright Show on July 8 for a pre-arranged online interview. When she failed to show shortly before 1pm, the production team tried to reach her through her personal assistant, who then asked the family gardener to check on her. The gardener found the former MP lying face down on her kitchen floor with a serious head injury the following day.
According to the prosecution, Widdecombe had been eating lunch at her bungalow in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, when Kerry pulled up outside in a red Vauxhall Corsa. Malik alleged that Kerry entered through the front door, struck her 21 times to the head with a hammer, tipped her from her chair, took a wallet from her handbag, and left within roughly two minutes.
Kerry was arrested on July 11, two days after Widdecombe was found dead. He was also held on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, though he has not been charged with that offence.
The cause of death has yet to be formally established. An inquest opened at Exeter Coroners’ Court heard that the proceedings would be adjourned until the criminal case concludes.
Head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing Laurence Taylor said on Monday that detectives are still investigating any possible political or terrorist motivation behind the killing. He described the attack as targeted and noted that over 800 lines of enquiry have been pursued since Widdecombe’s death.

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