An inquest into the death of Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and Brexit Party MEP, will open tomorrow after she was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, on July 9 with what police described as 'serious injuries'.
A 28-year-old man arrested on suspicion of her murder on July 11 remains in custody and is being questioned by counter-terrorism detectives. A decision on whether to charge him is expected imminently.
The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at County Hall in Exeter. Police believe Widdecombe, 78, was the victim of a 'targeted attack' on the day before she was found.
Two days after the initial murder arrest, counter-terrorism police took over the investigation. The man was subsequently re-arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism. Terrorism laws permit suspects to be held for up to 14 days with extensions. The initial seven-day period for the suspect expires Monday evening.
The investigation shifted focus amid reports that the arrested man, identified as Joshua Kerry, 28, had pinned newspaper clippings about Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and the party's policies on his walls. Police reportedly found these articles during searches of his home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. This discovery seemingly prompted the counter-terrorism unit's involvement, after Devon and Cornwall Police had initially stated there was no evidence the killing was politically motivated.
A source told The Sun that the clippings pertained to Reform UK, Farage, and the party's immigration policies, suggesting the suspect harbored a 'profound dislike' for them. Kerry, one of three brothers, had reportedly become more reclusive since the death of his father, Paul Yates, last year.
Neighbors described Kerry as polite, quiet, and shy, noting he would assist them with tasks like taking out bins or holding onto parcels. One resident recalled him accompanying his father on shopping trips while he was unwell. However, after his father's death, Kerry reportedly stopped working.
Kerry was arrested at his Rotherham home on Saturday, July 11. Witnesses described armed officers descending on his property and taking him away after he opened the door. He was later re-arrested under the terrorism act.
Relatives expressed shock at his arrest, with one uncle stating he was 'absolutely flabbergasted' and in 'total shock,' but acknowledged that his nephew had 'spiralled' following his father's death from cancer.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood informed the House of Commons that the arrested suspect was not known to Prevent, the UK's counter-extremism program.