UK politician Ann Widdecombe hit 21 times with hammer, prosecutors allege

Former UK minister Ann Widdecombe was struck 21 times on the head with a hammer as she was eating lunch at home, a prosecutor told a court hearing on Tuesday for the man charged in her murder. The incident occurred on July 8, according to the prosecution, and led to the death of the 78-year-old former politician. Joshua Kerry, 28, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London over the killing that shocked the public and the political establishment. Prosecution officer Kashif Malik described how Kerry entered Widdecombe’s home in an isolated southwest England village and asked, “Don’t suppose you have bank cards and ID?” Before responding, Kerry was reportedly wearing black gloves and holding a hammer concealed at his side. According to the prosecutor, he then struck Widdecombe 21 times on the head, tipping her out of her chair and onto the floor before taking her wallet and leaving. The entire encounter lasted approximately two minutes. Footage from a CCTV camera installed in the hallway and facing the kitchen revealed Widdecombe seated at the table, eating lunch when Kerry arrived. The video captured the moment he entered the home and engaged with her. Blunt force trauma to the head was listed as the provisional cause of death. Widdecombe was discovered face-down on her kitchen floor the following day, July 9, by her gardener, who had been contacted by her assistant after she failed to appear for a scheduled interview. Kerry was arrested on July 11 in South Yorkshire, a northern England county more than 400 kilometers away from Widdecombe’s residence in the village of Haytor, near Dartmoor National Park. He was detained on suspicion of murder and acts of terror. On Monday, he was charged while in custody and ordered to remain in detention pending further court appearances. Scheduled to appear again in the Central Criminal Court on October 9, Kerry spoke only to confirm his identity and did not enter a plea during his initial appearance. Widdecombe, a former member of Parliament and government minister, served in the House of Commons from 1987 to 2010. She was a prisons minister under Prime Minister John Major’s Conservative government in the 1990s. After retiring from politics, she gained widespread recognition as a contestant on the reality television programs Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. She later joined the Brexit Party, becoming a member of the European Parliament before the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU in 2020. Most recently, she became a prominent figure within the anti-immigration Reform UK party, frequently appearing in the media as the party’s spokesperson on immigration and justice issues. Her assassination has reignited concerns about the safety of politicians, particularly following the deaths of two other high-profile lawmakers in recent years. In 2016, Labour MP Jo Cox was killed by a far-right extremist, and in 2021, Conservative MP David Amess was stabbed by an attacker influenced by the Islamic State group. These incidents prompted increased security measures for elected officials, yet Widdecombe’s case highlights ongoing vulnerabilities despite these efforts. Authorities are still investigating the motive behind Kerry’s actions, considering the possibility of a political or terrorist link. While no official statement has been released regarding the nature of the alleged connection, police continue their inquiry. As the legal proceedings progress, the case remains a focal point for discussions on political violence and the broader implications for public safety in the UK.