Ann Widdecombe died after being struck on the head with a hammer 21 times, prosecutors told Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Joshua Kerry, a 28 year old administration worker from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, appeared before the court a day after being charged with murdering the former Conservative minister at her bungalow near Haytor, on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon.
Miss Widdecombe, who left the Conservative Party to join the Brexit Party in 2019 before later becoming Reform UK’s spokeswoman for immigration and justice, was found at her home at around 11.40am on July 9, having sustained severe head injuries. Investigators believe she was attacked almost a full day earlier, on the afternoon of July 8.
Discovery by gardener
The court heard that Miss Widdecombe, 78, was found lying face down on her kitchen floor by her gardener. He had gone to check on her after her personal assistant raised the alarm when the former MP failed to appear for a pre-arranged interview with Channel 5, due to take place shortly before 1pm on July 8.
Prosecutor Kashif Malik told the court that the gardener let himself into the property through the front door, which had been left open, on the morning of July 9, and discovered her body.
Details of the attack
According to the prosecution, Mr Kerry entered Miss Widdecombe’s home and struck her over the head with a hammer 21 times. He is then alleged to have tipped her from her chair onto the floor, taken her wallet, and driven roughly 270 miles back to his home in South Yorkshire.
Officers arrested Mr Kerry, who worked in the administration department of a company that installs and repairs lifts, two days after Miss Widdecombe’s body was found. A red Vauxhall Corsa believed to belong to him was also seized as part of the investigation.
Appearing in the dock flanked by three prison officers and wearing a grey sweatshirt, Mr Kerry spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
CCTV and doorbell footage
Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring was told that officers who attended the scene shortly after midday noticed a CCTV camera mounted in the hallway, pointing towards the kitchen. Footage from the camera showed Miss Widdecombe sitting near the entrance to the room, eating lunch, in the moments before the attack took place.
A separate review of her Ring doorbell camera reportedly captured what prosecutors say was Mr Kerry’s red Vauxhall Corsa arriving outside the property.
Mr Kerry was remanded in custody and is due to appear at the Old Bailey. Counter Terrorism Policing, which is overseeing the investigation, has said that establishing whether the attack was politically motivated remains an active line of inquiry.
