A man aged 28 has made a court appearance facing charges related to the murder of former government minister Ann Widdecombe. Joshua Kerry, hailing from Rotherham in South Yorkshire, appeared in Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning. He stands accused of assaulting the former Conservative MP turned Reform party representative at her residence in Devon. The 78-year-old Ms. Widdecombe was discovered with head injuries in her secluded bungalow on the outskirts of Dartmoor National Park two weeks ago.
Following the incident, armed officers apprehended Kerry at his residence three days later on July 11 on suspicion of murder. Ms. Widdecombe met her demise on July 8, just half an hour before her scheduled appearance via video call on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show. Despite last contacting a producer at 12:19 pm, she did not respond to a text sent at 12:48 pm.
Information suggests that Kerry has been without employment since his tenure as an office administrator ended around two years ago. The exact cause of Ms. Widdecombe’s death remains unknown, as revealed during the opening of an inquest into her passing at Exeter Coroner’s Court today. Philip Spinney, the senior coroner for Devon, Plymouth, and Torbay, disclosed that she was found unresponsive in her home by a staff member conducting a welfare check following concerns raised due to her unavailability.
Mr. Spinney stated, “A post-mortem examination has been conducted, and currently, the specific medical cause of death remains undetermined.” He further mentioned that the inquest would be temporarily suspended pending the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.
Elected as a Conservative MP in Kent in 1987, Ms. Widdecombe later served as an MEP for the Brexit Party and spokesperson for Reform UK. She also gained recognition for her appearances on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has urged for a thorough review of MPs’ safety in light of Ms. Widdecombe’s tragic demise.
In a tribute to Ms. Widdecombe, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood remarked, “Ann Widdecombe devoted her life to politics and public service. For nearly four decades, she was a prominent figure in our political landscape. Her steadfast beliefs, rooted in her deep Catholic faith, brought conviction to our politics. She fearlessly advocated for her convictions, all while imparting a unique style to the political arena.”
