Former MP Ann Widdecombe Fatally Struck 21 Times in Hammer Attack

Former British cabinet minister and ex-Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe was struck 21 times on the head with a hammer during the fatal attack at her Devon home earlier this month, prosecutors told a London court on Tuesday. The 78-year-old politician was allegedly attacked while eating lunch, with the accused remaining inside her house for about two minutes before fleeing.

Court told attack was captured on home security camera

According to a BBC report, prosecutor Kashif Malik told Westminster Magistrates' Court that 28-year-old Joshua Kerry arrived at Widdecombe's home in Haytor, Devon, in a red Vauxhall Corsa on July 8, entered through the front door wearing black gloves and repeatedly struck her with a hammer. Prosecutors said Kerry then tipped her from her chair, took her wallet and drove away. Security camera footage from inside the house allegedly captured the attack. Malik told the court that Widdecombe missed a scheduled online interview with Channel 5's Matt Allwright programme shortly before 1 pm on July 8. After attempts to contact her failed, her personal assistant asked a gardener to check on her the following day. The gardener entered through the open front door and found Widdecombe lying face down on the kitchen floor with severe head injuries.

Investigation and court proceedings

A pathologist has given the provisional cause of death as blunt force head injuries, the court heard. Police said they are continuing to investigate whether the killing had any political or terrorist motive. Joshua Kerry, from Rotherham in South Yorkshire, was charged with one count of murder following an investigation led by counterterrorism detectives. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court, where he confirmed his identity but was not asked to enter a plea. Later on Tuesday, he also appeared at the Old Bailey, where he was remanded in custody. He is due to appear again on October 9 for a case management hearing, while a provisional trial date has been set for June 8, 2027. Widdecombe served as the Conservative MP for Maidstone for 23 years and held ministerial posts in John Major's government during the 1990s. After leaving Parliament, she appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. She later served as a Member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party before joining Reform UK as a party spokesperson in 2023.