Ann Widdecombe loss of life defined – ‘hit with hammer 21 instances’, pockets ‘taken’ and TV no-show
The man suspected of murdering former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe has appeared before a court for the first time. Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (July 21) charged with murder.
A bearded Kerry appeared in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the brief hearing. He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey later on Tuesday.
Due to reporting restrictions imposed automatically when a suspect is arrested, information is limited and more is likely to be heard at a later court hearing. But here is everything we do know so far.
Kerry being driven away from the Old Bailey by masked cops
What allegedly happened
Miss Widdecombe, 78, was said to be eating lunch at her home in Dartmoor, Devon, when she was killed on July 8. Kerry allegedly pulled up outside the front of her house in a red Vauxhall Corsa and entered using the front door.
Prosecutor Kashif Malik told the court Kerry walked into her kitchen and used a hammer to hit her on the top of her head 21 times. Kerry then allegedly tipped Miss Widdecombe from her chair and took a wallet out of her handbag before leaving and driving off, having only been in the property for two minutes, the court heard.
Ms Widdecombe was a spokeswoman for the Reform party when she died(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Cause of death
A provisional cause of death was given as a “blunt force injury to the head”, the court heard.
Missed TV interview
She did not attend a pre-arranged interview with Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show scheduled for just before 1pm. It would have been aired live. The show’s production team tried to contact her through her personal assistant, who then asked the gardener to check on her, the court was told.
Prosecutors said the gardener entered the house via the open front door the following day, on July 9, and found Miss Widdecombe lying face down on her kitchen floor with a serious head injury.
Police at the scene in Rotherham following Kerry’s arrest(Image: Dave Higgens/PA Wire)
Arrest
Kerry was arrested on suspicion of murder on July 11, two days after Ms Widdecombe was found dead at her bungalow. He was arrested in Rotherham, 268 miles away from where she was found dead.
What happens next
Kerry, who appeared emotionless in the dock, was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey. This was because the offence is too serious to be dealt with at Magistrates’ Court.
Court artist sketch of Joshua Kerry, the man suspected of murdering Ann Widdecombe(Image: Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire)
He later appeared at the Old Bailey. Prosecutor Alistair Richardson told the court that before his arrest, Kerry was living in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, 265 miles from Widdecombe’s Devon address.
Kerry will next appear at the same court on October 9 for a case management hearing before a further plea and trial preparation hearing on November 20. A provisional trial date was listed for June 8 2027.
Miss Widdecombe’s career
Her career in politics spanned decades. She was first elected as a Conservative MP in Kent in 1987, was a prisons minister in the 1990s.
She served as Conservative MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and was appointed to ministerial roles in Sir John Major’s government in the 1990s and later became an MEP for the Brexit Party.
At the time of her death she was a spokeswoman on immigration and justice for Reform UK. She also found fame outside politics on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
