A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of former MP and Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe.
Joshua Kerry, 28, is accused of killing the 78-year-old former Conservative minister at her home in Haytor, Devon, earlier this month. He allegedly struck her on the head 21 times with a hammer.
During a short hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday afternoon, Kerry—wearing a grey sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms—only spoke to confirm his name, date of birth, and address.
Widdecombe was found dead in her kitchen on the morning of 9 July. Prosecutor Khasif Malik told the court that a pathologist gave a provisional cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head.
Malik said concerns were raised after she missed a pre-arranged online interview for Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show the day before. Her body was discovered by her gardener, and emergency services pronounced her dead shortly after, the court heard.
Kerry was arrested on suspicion of murder at his home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on 11 July by Devon and Cornwall Police. This followed a link to a red Vauxhall Corsa seen outside Widdecombe’s bungalow shortly before her death.
The case was later taken over by counter-terrorism officers, and Kerry was rearrested on suspicion of committing, preparing, or instigating acts of terrorism. The investigation into whether there was a political or terrorist motive for Widdecombe’s death is ongoing.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told Kerry he would be remanded in custody and appear at the Old Bailey later on Tuesday afternoon.
Earlier on Tuesday, an inquest into Widdecombe’s death opened in Exeter. Philip Spinney, the senior coroner for Devon, Plymouth, and Torbay, confirmed the time and date of her death and read a short statement before suspending the inquest until the criminal proceedings conclude.
He said: “The circumstances of the death are as follows: concerns were raised that Miss Widdecombe could not be contacted. An employee who was due at her home was asked to check on her. Miss Widdecombe was found inside her property, unresponsive and with visible injuries. Emergency services were called, and she was sadly declared dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination has been carried out, but the exact medical cause of death has not yet been determined.”
Spinney also paid tribute to Widdecombe, who served as the Conservative MP for Maidstone from 1987 to 2010. In 2019, she joined the Brexit Party as an MEP and later became an immigration and justice spokesperson for its successor, Reform UK.
“It is clear that Miss Widdecombe was much loved and will be greatly missed, and it’s important we all understand the impact her loss has had on those who mourn her,” Spinney said. “A court can seem a harsh and clinical setting for what is a deeply private matter—the death of a loved one. I would like to offer my deepest condolences to Miss Widdecombe’s family.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the incident involving Ann Widdecombe written in a natural clear tone
General FAQs
Q What actually happened to Ann Widdecombe
A During a court case it was alleged that she was repeatedly hit on the head with a hammer This was a claim made in court not a confirmed fact
Q Was Ann Widdecombe actually attacked
A The information comes from a statement made in court It is a serious allegation that was being presented as evidence during a trial
Q When did this alleged attack happen
A The court was told about the alleged attack in 2024 The exact date of the supposed incident itself was not widely reported
Q Who was on trial in this case
A The case involved a person accused of stalking and harassing Ann Widdecombe The hammer attack was part of the alleged harassment
Q Is Ann Widdecombe okay
A There have been no reports of her being seriously injured The information came from a court statement and she has continued with her public appearances and activities
DeeperContextual Questions
Q Why was the hammer attack mentioned in court
A It was presented as evidence of the extreme nature of the alleged stalking and harassment The prosecution used it to show the severity of the threats the defendant was accused of making
Q Was the hammer attack proven to have happened
A No The court was told about the allegation The trial was ongoing to determine the facts As of the latest reports the outcome of that specific allegation is part of the courts findings
Q Who was the person accused of this
A The defendant was a man named Patrick Murphy He was on trial for stalking and harassment
Q What was the outcome of the trial
A Patrick Murphy was found guilty of stalking and harassment The details of the hammer attack were part of the evidence considered by the jury
Q Is this related to her time on Strictly Come Dancing or her political career
A No The stalking and alleged hammer attack appear to be unrelated to her TV or political work It was a personal harassment case by an individual
Practical Safety Questions
