London, United Kingdom. A man charged with the murder of former government minister Ann Widdecombe appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where prosecutors alleged she was struck 21 times on the head with a hammer at her home earlier this month.
Joshua Kerry, 28, was not asked to enter a plea and was due to appear at the Old Bailey later on Tuesday.
Attack and investigation
Widdecombe, 78, was found at her rural southwest England home on July 9 after being attacked the previous day. She had been a prominent figure in Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK and was no longer a member of parliament.
Police said they believed Widdecombe had been clearly targeted, although the motive remained under investigation.
Court hearing
Kerry, described in court as a white British national from northern England, appeared in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit. Prosecutor Kashif Malik said footage from a camera inside Widdecombe’s home had captured the attack.
According to Malik, Widdecombe had been due to take part in a live television interview from her home on July 8 but did not appear. The following day, her personal assistant asked her gardener to check on her, and he found her on the kitchen floor.
Prosecution account
Malik told the court that the footage showed Kerry entering through the front door while Widdecombe was eating lunch and asking: “Don’t suppose you have bank cards and ID?”
He said Kerry was wearing black gloves and holding a hammer at his side, out of Widdecombe’s view, before allegedly hitting her 21 times. The prosecutor said Kerry then tipped her from her chair onto the floor, took her wallet and left after approximately two minutes in the property.
