- Joshua Kerry, 28, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court accused of murdering Ann Widdecombe and was kept in custody.
- Prosecutor said Kerry allegedly hit Widdecombe 21 times with a hammer; provisional cause blunt force head injury.
- Kerry was arrested July 11 on suspicion of murder and on suspicion of terrorism, though he has not been charged for terrorism.
- Widdecombe was found dead at her bungalow in southwest Devon; attacker allegedly entered during lunch, spent two minutes and took a wallet.
- The killing sparked political reaction; Widdecombe is the third UK politician murdered this decade and MPs seek improved security.
A British man accused of murdering veteran right-wing ex-MP Ann Widdecombe, allegedly hitting her 21 times with a hammer, was kept in custody Tuesday at his first court hearing.
Joshua Kerry, 28, of Rotherham in northern England, appeared emotionless in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, speaking only to confirm his name, date of birth and address, during the short hearing.
Police arrested him on July 11 on suspicion of murder, two days after 78-year-old Widdecombe – a spokesperson for the hard-right Reform UK party and a former Conservative minister – was found dead at her bungalow in southwest Devon.
Kerry was also arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, but he has not been charged with this offence.
A suspected motive has not been disclosed, with the head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing Laurence Taylor saying Monday that detectives were still investigating any possible political or terrorist motivation.
Kerry was set to make a further court appearance at London’s Old Bailey later on Tuesday.
Summarising the case to chief magistrate Paul Goldspring, prosecutor Kashif Malik revealed Kerry allegedly used a hammer to hit Widdecombe on the top of her head 21 times.
The former lawmaker had been eating lunch when he allegedly walked through her front door and attacked her, after driving from his home about 300 miles (500 kilometres) away.
He is accused of then taking a wallet from her handbag and driving off, spending just two minutes inside the property, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.
Widdecombe’s gardener found her body lying face down on her kitchen floor.
A provisional cause of death was given as a “blunt force injury to the head”, according to Malik.
Sending his case to London’s Old Bailey, Goldspring told Kerry: “You’re charged with an offence of murder which can only be dealt with in a crown court.”
The murder of the high-profile 78-year-old sparked strong reactions from politicians, including Reform MPs who have called for improved security for lawmakers.
Widdecombe is the third UK politician murdered in an allegedly targeted attack this decade.
Labour Party MP Jo Cox was murdered in 2016 by a neo-Nazi sympathiser, while Conservative lawmaker David Amess was killed in 2021 by an Islamic State group follower.
