Joshua Kerry stands accused of fatally attacking former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe in her Dartmoor home, a court was told. Prosecutors allege that Kerry entered Widdecombe's residence through an open front door on July 8 and assaulted her with a hammer as she ate lunch in her kitchen.
The attack, which lasted approximately two minutes, was reportedly captured on camera by Widdecombe's Ring doorbell and another camera inside the hallway. Kerry is accused of driving approximately 300 miles from Rotherham to Dartmoor with a hammer concealed behind his back. According to prosecution statements, he confronted Widdecombe, inquired about bank cards and identification, and then struck her on the head 21 times.
After the alleged assault, Kerry is said to have tipped Widdecombe from her chair onto the kitchen floor, taken her wallet, and left the property in his red Vauxhall Corsa. Security footage reportedly shows his vehicle arriving and departing the scene.
Widdecombe, 78, was discovered by her gardener on July 9, lying face down on the kitchen floor with a severe head injury. The gardener had been asked to check on her by her personal assistant after she became uncontactable and missed a scheduled media interview. The front door was found ajar.
Paramedics pronounced Widdecombe dead at the scene at 12:20 p.m. on July 9. Police traced the red Vauxhall Corsa to Rotherham, leading to Kerry's arrest later that evening on suspicion of murder. He was subsequently arrested under the Terrorism Act. A search of his property reportedly recovered a hammer and gloves from a bin. A mobile phone seized from the defendant is alleged to contain photographs of Widdecombe's driving license and bank cards, which prosecutors claim were stolen.
Kerry appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court and is scheduled to appear at the Old Bailey. Separately, the coroner in Ann Widdecombe's inquest stated that the precise cause of death has not yet been established, despite visible injuries. A post-mortem examination has been conducted.
The inquest has been suspended pending the conclusion of criminal proceedings.