JOSHUA KERRY CHARGED WITH MURDER OF ANN WIDDECOMBE

Joshua Kerry, 28, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday charged with the murder of Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative MP and Reform UK spokesperson. Prosecutors told the court that Widdecombe, 78, was struck on the head with a hammer 21 times at her home in Haytor, Devon, on 8 July. Kerry, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, arrived at the property in a red Vauxhall Corsa and entered through the front door, remaining inside for approximately two minutes whilst wearing black gloves, according to the prosecution account. He allegedly took her wallet before leaving the scene. Kerry was remanded in custody and ordered to appear at the Old Bailey later that day.

Widdecombe failed to attend a pre-arranged online interview with Channel 5's Matt Allwright show scheduled for shortly before 13:00 on 8 July. Her production team contacted her personal assistant, who requested her gardener conduct a welfare check. The gardener discovered Widdecombe lying face down on her kitchen floor on 9 July with a serious head injury and called emergency services. She was pronounced dead at 12:20 that day. Security camera footage from her home confirmed the fatal attack occurred on 8 July, prosecutors stated.

Kerry was arrested at his home on 11 July on suspicion of murder by officers from Devon and Cornwall Police after being linked to the red Vauxhall Corsa. The case was subsequently taken over by counter-terrorism officers, and Kerry was rearrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. Prosecutors said police were investigating whether a terrorism connection or political motivation existed for the attack. An inquest into Widdecombe's death opened in Exeter on Tuesday and was suspended pending the conclusion of criminal proceedings.