Former UK Minister Ann Widdecombe killed with 21 hammer blows, court hears

A drawing shows the defendant Joshua Kerry in court. Source: Elizabeth Cook/PA via AP

Gruesome new details have emerged in the murder case of former British minister Ann Widdecombe. A 28-year-old man is accused of killing her with 21 hammer blows, according to information released in court on Tuesday.

Court Proceedings

A British court ordered pre-trial detention on Tuesday for Joshua Kerry, 28, who is suspected of striking Widdecombe 21 times on the head with a hammer. Prosecutors allege that he then stole a wallet from her handbag and fled the scene. The trial is scheduled to begin on June 8, 2027.

Cause of Death

Prosecutor Kashif Malik stated that the cause of death was a "traumatic brain injury caused by a blunt object." According to the prosecution, Kerry was on Widdecombe's property in Devon, southwest England, for only two minutes on the day of the crime, July 9. Her gardener discovered the body of the 78-year-old on the kitchen floor the following day.

Investigation and Charges

Police initially ruled out a political motive, but an anti-terror unit later took over the investigation. On Monday, Kerry was charged with murder rather than an act with a terrorist background. However, the prosecution stated that it would continue to examine a possible terrorist motive.

Ann Widdecombe's Political Career

Widdecombe served in the British Parliament for the Conservative Party from 1987 to 2010. She was known for her Christian faith and outspoken views. As Prisons Minister in 1995, she sparked controversy for defending the practice of shackling pregnant inmates.

In 2019, Widdecombe joined Nigel Farage's Brexit Party. She served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2019 until the UK's exit from the EU in 2020.

Television Appearances

Widdecombe was also a familiar face on British entertainment television, appearing on the dance show Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.

AFP/nw