Former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe was allegedly bludgeoned 21 times with a hammer during a two-minute attack captured on security cameras at her Devon home, a court has heard.
The allegations emerged as Joshua Kerry, 28, appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with the murder of the former MP and Reform UK spokeswoman.
Prosecutors claim Kerry drove almost 300 miles from his home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, to Widdecombe’s bungalow near Haytor on Dartmoor before carrying out what they described as a planned attack on Wednesday, July 8.
The court heard the alleged attack was recorded by two separate cameras installed at the property.
According to prosecutor Kashif Malik, Kerry’s arrival outside the bungalow was captured by Widdecombe’s Ring doorbell camera before he entered through the open front door.
The prosecution alleges that a second camera positioned in the hallway recorded the fatal attack inside the property.
Mr Malik told the court that Widdecombe had been eating lunch in her kitchen shortly before she was due to appear in a live interview on Channel 5’s *Matt Allwright Show*.
The interview had been scheduled to begin at approximately 12.50pm.
Prosecutors allege Kerry approached the property carrying a hammer concealed behind his back before entering through the unlocked front door.
Once inside, he is accused of walking directly into the kitchen where Widdecombe was seated.
The court heard Kerry allegedly confronted the former minister before asking: “Don’t suppose you have bank cards and ID?”
According to the prosecution, he then launched a violent assault, striking Widdecombe 21 times on the top of the head with a hammer.
Mr Malik told magistrates the attack lasted only around two minutes.
The prosecution alleges that after carrying out the assault, Kerry tipped Widdecombe from her chair onto the kitchen floor before searching through her handbag.
He is accused of stealing her wallet before leaving the property and driving away.
The court heard that a provisional post-mortem examination has identified Widdecombe’s cause of death as blunt force injuries to the head.
The allegations provide the clearest account so far of what prosecutors say happened during the former minister’s final moments.
Until Tuesday’s hearing, police had confirmed only that Widdecombe had suffered serious injuries and that detectives believed she had been the victim of a targeted attack.
The prosecution also outlined how concerns first arose after Widdecombe failed to attend the live television interview she had been preparing for.
Earlier that day, she had exchanged messages with members of the production team arranging the appearance.
When she failed to join the scheduled Zoom call shortly before 1pm, repeated attempts were made to contact her.
The production team eventually contacted Widdecombe’s personal assistant, who asked her gardener to visit the property and check on her welfare.
The following day, July 9, the gardener entered the bungalow through the open front door.
Prosecutors told the court he discovered Widdecombe lying face down on the kitchen floor with a severe head injury.
Emergency services attended the scene, but she was pronounced dead.
The investigation quickly became one of the highest-profile murder inquiries in Britain.
Devon and Cornwall Police launched a murder investigation before Counter Terrorism Policing became involved because detectives were examining whether there may have been a political or ideological motive.
Kerry was arrested in Rotherham on July 11 on suspicion of murder.
Two days later he was rearrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism while officers continued investigating the alleged motive.
The Crown Prosecution Service announced on Monday that it had authorised a murder charge after concluding there was sufficient evidence for the case to proceed.
Frank Ferguson, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said police enquiries into motive remain ongoing, including whether there may have been a political or terrorist connection.
Those enquiries continue alongside the murder prosecution.
Earlier on Tuesday, an opening hearing of Widdecombe’s inquest took place at Exeter Coroner’s Court.
Senior Coroner Philip Spinney heard that Widdecombe had suffered visible injuries before formally opening and immediately suspending the inquest pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
Suspending an inquest while criminal proceedings are active is standard legal practice.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told Kerry that the allegation could only be dealt with by the Crown Court.
“You are charged with an offence of murder which can only be dealt with in a Crown Court,” he said.
“You are therefore remanded into custody and sent to Crown Court.”
Following the hearing, Kerry was remanded into custody and transported under police escort to the Old Bailey for the next stage of the proceedings.
The allegations presented in court represent the prosecution’s case and have not yet been tested at trial.
Kerry has been charged with murder but has not entered a plea.
He has not been convicted of any offence.
Under English law, every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
The criminal proceedings will now continue before the Crown Court, where prosecutors are expected to present the security camera footage alongside forensic evidence gathered during the investigation.
The coroner’s investigation into Widdecombe’s death will remain suspended until the criminal case has concluded, after which a full inquest will resume to establish the formal medical and legal circumstances of her death.
With proceedings now active, reporting restrictions apply to material capable of prejudicing a future jury, and police have urged the public to avoid speculation while the case progresses through the courts.
