Ann Widdecombe suspect charged with murder
A 28-year-old man has been charged with the murder of former MP Ann Widdecombe.
Joshua Kerry was arrested at his home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Saturday after the former Conservative prisons minister and UK Reform spokesman was found dead on July 9.
Police said they believed the 78-year-old man was attacked at his remote bungalow in Haytor, on Dartmoor in Devon, at around 12.30pm the previous day.
The suspect, accused of traveling almost 300 miles to carry out the attack, is expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.
Announcing the charges, chief prosecutor Frank Ferguson of the CPS Special Crime and Counter-Terrorism Section said: “Following the police investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe in Haytor, Dartmoor, we decided to prosecute Joshua Kerry for murder.
“Police investigations into the defendant’s motives, including any potential political or terrorist links, are ongoing.
“Our prosecutors worked closely with police to determine that there was sufficient evidence for this case to proceed to trial, and we will continue to work with them as the investigation progresses.
“We remind all concerned that the trial against the defendant is active and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.
“It is vital that no news, comments or information is shared that could harm these operations in any way.”
Laurence Taylor, head of the Counter-Terrorism Police Unit, confirmed police were not looking for anyone else and added that determining whether the attack was politically motivated remained an “active avenue of investigation”.
“I would like to make clear that our investigation into this individual continues to determine his motivations and any wider activities he may have been involved in,” he said outside Scotland Yard.
“Given the profile of Ann Widdecombe and the targeted nature of the attack, determining motivation, including any possible political motivation, remains an active avenue of investigation for our detectives. And as with all murder investigations, understanding why is an important part of our investigations.”
“This has been, and remains, a particularly intense and complex investigation. Over the past week our teams have collected a huge amount of information which has led to more than 800 lines of inquiry. Each of these needs to be considered carefully and in detail and I would ask that we be given time to do this.
“Should counter-terrorism police detect further crimes we will liaise with the Crown Prosecution Service and provide evidence where appropriate.”
The interior minister said the suspect was not previously known in Prevent, the government’s counter-terrorism plan.
Mr Kerry’s uncle described his nephew as a “gentle giant” who was “kind” and “very shy”.
“Never in a million years” did he think his nephew would be linked to her death, adding he was “in total shock” when he found out he had been arrested, he told Telegram.
He also paid tribute to Ms Widdecombe, who he said was “outspoken, tough and principled”.
A video tour of his house was broadcast on television a week before his murder.
First elected as a Conservative MP for Kent in 1987, Ms Widdecombe served as a Brexit Party MP and later as a spokesperson for Reform UK during her long political career.
He initially retired from politics at the 2010 general election and returned nine years later in 2019 as a candidate for the Brexit party in the European parliament.
In the intervening years, he also rose to fame outside of politics after appearing in reality shows Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. He has also appeared in many pantomime productions and the ITV series ‘Ann Widdecombe Versus’.
Sir Keir Starmer said in his latest Prime Minister’s Questions that “we must do more to defend our democracy” following the death of Ms Widdecombe.
More to follow…
