A man aged 28 has made a court appearance following allegations of murdering former government minister Ann Widdecombe. Joshua Kerry, a resident of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was brought before Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning for reportedly assaulting the ex-Tory MP, who had transitioned to become a spokesperson for Reform, at her residence in Devon. The incident occurred 14 days ago in her secluded bungalow on the outskirts of Dartmoor National Park, where Ms. Widdecombe, aged 78, was discovered with head injuries.
Kerry was apprehended by armed officers at his residence three days subsequent to the incident on July 11 under suspicion of murder. Ms. Widdecombe tragically lost her life on July 8, just half an hour before she was scheduled to participate in a video call on the Matt Allwright show aired by Channel 5. She had last corresponded with a producer at 12:19 pm but failed to reply to a text message sent at 12:48 pm.
Reportedly unemployed since his role as an office administrator two years ago, Kerry is believed to have been the suspect in question. The cause of Ms. Widdecombe’s demise remains undetermined, as revealed during the initiation of an inquest into her passing at Exeter Coroner’s Court today.
Philip Spinney, the senior coroner overseeing Devon, Plymouth, and Torbay, disclosed that Ms. Widdecombe was found unresponsive in her abode by a staff member conducting a welfare check following concerns raised due to her unavailability. Spinney mentioned, “A post-mortem examination has been conducted, and the exact medical cause of death is yet to be determined at this stage.”
He added, “Following this hearing, I will proceed to formally suspend this inquest… pending 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 as a spokeswoman for Reform UK. Additionally, she appeared on popular television shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
After Ms. Widdecombe’s unfortunate demise, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for a thorough review of safety measures for MPs. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood paid respects to Ms. Widdecombe, stating, “Ann Widdecombe devoted her life to politics and public service. She was a prominent figure in our political landscape for nearly four decades, advocating for her beliefs with conviction rooted in her deep Catholic faith. She was known for her outspoken views and fearless defense of her principles. Above all, she brought a unique flair to the realm of politics.”