Ann Widdecombe ‘struck with hammer 21 times’, court hears
The man accused of murdering former MP Ann Widdecombe is accused of hitting her 21 times with a hammer and taking her wallet, a court heard.
Joshua Kerry, 28, allegedly arrived at the Reform England spokesman’s remote bungalow in Haytor, Devon, shortly after midday on Wednesday (July 8).
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard the doorbell camera captured the suspect’s red Vauxhall Corsa driving off the property.
A camera located in the hallway showed the 78-year-old politician sitting in the kitchen eating lunch and the defendant entering through the front door and asking: “Don’t you think you have bank cards and ID?” It shows you asking.
He then allegedly hit her in the head 21 times with a hammer before lifting her from her chair and knocking her to the ground.
Ms Widdecombe was found face down on the kitchen floor the next day by a gardener who was asked to check on the former Conservative prisons minister after he missed a scheduled interview on Channel 5.
The court heard the provisional cause of death was given as “blunt force injury to the head”.
Days later, Mr Kerry, who was arrested more than 300 miles from his home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, appeared to be wearing gray prison tracksuits. He sat with his arms folded and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the brief hearing.
Prosecutor Kashir Malik said a search of bins outside her property turned up a hammer and black gloves containing Ms Widdecombe’s DNA.
Chief judge Paul Goldspring told the defendant: “You are charged with an offense of murder which can only be tried in the crown court.”
He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey this afternoon.
Announcing the charges on Monday, Counter Terrorism Police chief Laurence Taylor said it remained “an active avenue of investigation” to determine whether the attack was politically motivated.
“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.”
More to follow…
