Ann Widdecombe murdered by 21 blows with hammer during Devon attack
Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
A man accused of murdering former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe has appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where prosecutors alleged he struck her 21 times with a hammer before stealing her wallet.
Joshua Kerry, 28, of Byrley Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, is charged with murdering the 78-year-old at her remote bungalow in Haytor, on Dartmoor, Devon, on 8th July.
The court heard that Kerry allegedly arrived at the property shortly after midday in a red Vauxhall Corsa, with a doorbell camera said to have captured his arrival.
Prosecutor Kashif Malik told the court that interior CCTV showed Ms Widdecombe sitting in her kitchen eating lunch before the defendant entered through the front door and allegedly asked: “Don’t suppose you have bank cards and ID?”
The prosecution alleges Kerry then walked into the kitchen and struck Ms Widdecombe 21 times on the head with a hammer before tipping her from her chair onto the floor. It is further alleged that he took a wallet from her handbag before leaving the property, having been inside for only around two minutes.
A provisional post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a “blunt force injury to the head”, the court heard.
Ms Widdecombe was discovered the following day lying face down on her kitchen floor by her gardener after concerns were raised when she failed to attend a scheduled television interview. The production team reportedly contacted her personal assistant, who asked the gardener to check on her welfare.
The court also heard that police recovered a hammer and a pair of black gloves from bins outside Kerry’s home. Prosecutors said Ms Widdecombe’s DNA was found on the gloves.
Kerry, who was arrested at his home in Rotherham on 11th July, appeared wearing a grey prison-issue tracksuit. During the brief hearing he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told the defendant: “You’re charged with an offence of murder which can only be dealt with in a crown court.”
He added: “You are therefore remanded into custody and sent to crown court.”
Kerry was remanded in custody and appeared later on Tuesday at the Old Bailey.
Counter Terrorism Policing continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing.
Although Kerry has also been arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, he has not been charged with any terrorism offence.
Announcing the murder charge on Monday, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Laurence Taylor said investigators were continuing to examine the suspect’s motives.
“I want to make it very clear that our investigation into this individual, determining his motivations and any wider activity he may have been involved in is continuing,” he said.
“Given Ann Widdecombe’s profile and the targeted nature of the attack, determining the motivation, including any possible political motivation, remains an active avenue of investigation for our detectives. And as with all murder investigations, understanding the why is a key part of our inquiries.”
( Image: Counter Terrorism Police 📸 )