Murdered ex-MP hit with hammer 21 times, UK court told
A man accused of murdering former British government minister Ann Widdecombe hit her on the top of the head 21 times with a hammer during an attack at her home earlier this month, prosecutors told a London court.
Widdecombe, 78, a leading figure in Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK campaign but no longer a member of parliament, was found at his home in rural southwest England on July 9 after being attacked the previous day.
Joshua Kerry, 28, from northern England, appeared at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with murder.
He was not asked to enter a defence.
Prosecutor Kashif Malik said a camera at Widdecombe’s home recorded the incident in which Widdecombe was hit repeatedly with a hammer.
Malik said Widdecombe was supposed to be interviewed live on television from his home on July 8, but he did not turn up.
The next day his personal assistant asked his gardener to check on Widdecombe, and the gardener found him on the kitchen floor.
Malik told the court that camera footage showed Kerry entering the Widdecombe home where he was having lunch and asking him: “Don’t you think you have bank cards and ID?” He said he asked.
Malik added that Kerry then hit Widdecombe 21 times with a hammer, then took his wallet and left, with Malik staying at the house for just two minutes before setting off.
Bearded Kerry, who appeared on the dock in a gray tracksuit, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey later on Tuesday.
Speaking outside New Scotland Yard on Monday, Laurence Taylor, head of the UK Counter-Terrorism Police Service, said detectives were still investigating any possible political or terrorist motivations.
Widdecombe was first elected as a Conservative MP for Kent in 1987, was prisons minister in the 1990s and later became a Brexit Party MP.
At the time of his death he was Reform UK’s immigration and justice spokesperson.
He also found fame outside of politics in TV shows Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
with PA
