Ann Widdecombe was hit on head repeatedly with hammer, prosecutors say - BBC

What the report says

BBC News reports that prosecutors told Westminster Magistrates’ Court that former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe was struck on the head 21 times with a hammer during an alleged attack at her home in Haytor, Devon. Joshua Kerry, 28, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, has been charged with murder. Prosecutor Kashif Malik said Kerry arrived at the property on 8 July in a red Vauxhall Corsa, entered through the front door while wearing black gloves, attacked Widdecombe in her kitchen as she was eating lunch, took her wallet and left after about two minutes.

According to the BBC’s account of the hearing, concern was raised after Widdecombe missed a scheduled online interview with Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show shortly before 13:00 BST that day. The court heard that the programme team contacted her personal assistant, who asked Widdecombe’s gardener to check on her. Prosecutors said the gardener entered through an open front door on 9 July and found her face down on the kitchen floor with a serious head injury. An inquest hearing was told emergency services were called and she was pronounced dead at 12:20.

Kerry appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and later at the Old Bailey, where he was remanded in custody. He was not asked to enter a plea. His next hearing is listed for 9 October, with a provisional trial date set for 8 June 2027. Prosecutors said police are still examining whether there was any terrorism link or political motivation.

Widdecombe’s public career included 23 years as Conservative MP for Maidstone, ministerial roles in the 1990s, later television appearances, and service as a Brexit Party MEP before joining Reform UK as a spokeswoman.