Ann Widdecombe homicide suspect pictured as police proceed investigation
Joshua Kerry, 28, is being quizzed by counter-terror detectives, having been arrested on suspicion of killing the 78-year-old former Tory minister in her Devon bungalow
Joshua Kerry is being held over Ms Widdecombe’s murder
Smiling while holding a jar of Easter eggs, this is the man suspected of murdering Ann Widdecombe.
Joshua Kerry is suspected by counter-terror police of targeting the 78-year-old former Tory minister in her Devon bungalow. The 28-year-old was arrested last Saturday night at his council house home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
Police initially treated Ms Widdecombe’s death as a burglary gone wrong, but they rearrested Kerry two days later on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. He remains in custody and can be held for questioning until Tuesday when officers have the option of applying for an extension.
Wearing jeans and a green shirt, bespectacled Kerry was pictured in 2022 grinning for the camera. Ms Widdecombe was bludgeoned to death in her home on Wednesday July 8, 30 minutes before she was set to appear via video call from home, on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show.
She had last messaged a producer at 12.19pm but failed to respond to a text at 12.48pm. Devon and Cornwall Police revealed she was killed at 12.30pm in the bungalow where she lived alone with her cat on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.
Her body remained undiscovered for almost 24 hours before being found in the kitchen at 11.40am the next day.
Ms Widdecombe was first elected a Conservative MP in Kent in 1987, then served as an MEP for the Brexit Party and spokeswoman for Reform UK. She also starred in Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last week that he had spoken to his successor Andy Burnham, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK’s Mr Farage to “urge everybody to come together at a moment like this”.
Paying tribute to Ms Widdecombe Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said on Tuesday: “Ann Widdecombe dedicated her life to politics and public service. For nearly 40 years, she was a fixture of our political life.
“She brought conviction to our politics, grounded in her profound Catholic faith. She was forthright in her opinions and argued courageously for the things she believed in. But, perhaps most of all, she brought an inimitable style to politics. She was forthright and fearless.”
The Home Secretary added: “She was one of those rare politicians who was bigger than politics.”
House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle also paid tribute to Ms Widdecombe in the chamber and urged MPs not to say anything that might prejudice a future trial.
He said: “Ann was a formidable politician, a prominent figure in public life. She was a member of Parliament for Maidstone for 23 years, holding a number of ministerial posts in the 1990s.
“Ann was fierce and enjoyed robust political debate. Whether you agreed with her or not, she was principled, spoke her mind and was true to her beliefs, informed by a Christian faith.
“On a personal level, Casa Pizza in Lambeth is where I spent a lot of time in the evening sharing a pizza with the one and only Ann Widdecombe.
“She was a friend in many ways. Politically we may not agree, but she was without doubt a courageous, principled politician and all our thoughts are with her family and her friends.
Counter Terrorism Policing took over the investigation into Ms Widdecombe’s death after Devon and Cornwall Police initially said there was “nothing to suggest” the murder had been politically motivated.
