A man aged 28 has made a court appearance following allegations of murdering former government minister Ann Widdecombe. Joshua Kerry, hailing from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was brought before Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning for supposedly assaulting the ex-Tory MP turned Reform spokesperson at her residence in Devon. Ms. Widdecombe, aged 78, was discovered deceased with head injuries in her secluded bungalow on the outskirts of Dartmoor National Park two weeks ago.
Kerry was apprehended by armed officers three days after the incident at his residence on suspicion of murder on July 11. The tragic event occurred on July 8, just half an hour before Ms. Widdecombe was scheduled to appear on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show via video call. She last communicated with a producer at 12:19 pm but did not respond to a text at 12:48 pm.
The accused, Kerry, has reportedly been without employment since his role as an office administrator ceased around two years ago. The cause of Ms. Widdecombe’s demise remains undetermined as per the proceedings of the inquest into her death at Exeter Coroner’s Court today.
Philip Spinney, the senior coroner for Devon, Plymouth, and Torbay, mentioned that she was found unresponsive at her residence by a staff member conducting a welfare check due to concerns about her unavailability. Spinney stated, “A post-mortem examination has been conducted, and the exact medical cause of death is yet to be determined. Following this hearing, I will proceed to formally suspend this inquest… Until the conclusion of the legal proceedings.”
Ms. Widdecombe, who began her political career as a Conservative MP in Kent in 1987, later served as an MEP for the Brexit Party and spokesperson for Reform UK. She was also known for her appearances on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for a thorough review of MPs’ safety in light of Ms. Widdecombe’s tragic passing.
Paying homage to Ms. Widdecombe, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood remarked, “Ann Widdecombe devoted her life to politics and public service. Over nearly four decades, she played a significant role in our political landscape. Grounded in her deep Catholic faith, she brought a strong sense of conviction to our politics. Bold in her views, she fearlessly advocated for her beliefs. Above all, she brought a distinctive style to the political arena.”