Ann Widdecombe died after sustaining 21 blows to the head with a hammer, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday, July 21st. The former MP and MEP, 78, was found face down on her kitchen floor at her home in Haytor, Devon by her gardener, on Thursday, July 9th.
Joshua Kerry has now been charged with her murder.
The 28-year-old from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was initially arrested after Widdecombe was found with serious injuries at her Devon home and was later re-arrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offences.
The complex investigation is being led by Counter Terrorism Policing South East, supported by Devon and Cornwall Police, with over 800 lines of enquiry already generated. Officials confirmed that investigators are not looking for any other suspects, and the Crown Prosecution Service has emphasized the importance of avoiding public commentary that could prejudice the active legal proceedings.
Widdecombe had a prominent political career spanning decades, serving as a Conservative MP for 23 years, an MEP for the Brexit Party, and later a Reform UK spokeswoman, alongside work in light entertainment and as a published novelist. Following her death, elected officials from across the political spectrum—including Nigel Farage, Kemi Badenoch, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham—paid tribute to her lifetime of public service.
