The man accused of murdering former government minister Ann Widdecombe struck her 21 times on the top of her head with a hammer during the attack at her home earlier this month, prosecutors told a London court on Tuesday.
Event Context
Widdecombe, 78, who was a prominent figure in Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK but no longer a member of parliament, was found at her home in rural southwest England on July 9 after being attacked the day before.
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Joshua Kerry, a 28-year-old white British national from northern England, appeared at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with her murder. He was not asked to enter a plea.
Kerry then hit Widdecombe with a hammer 21 times, before taking her wallet and leaving, Malik added.
Player Focus
Widdecombe had been due to be interviewed live on television on July 8 from her home but did not appear, Malik said. The following day, her personal assistant asked her gardener to check on Widdecombe, and he found her on the kitchen floor.
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Malik told the court that footage recovered from the camera showed Kerry enter Widdecombe’s home where she was eating lunch and ask her: “Don’t suppose you have bank cards and ID?”
Team Analysis
Prosecutor Kashif Malik said a camera inside Widdecombe’s home had captured the incident, during which she had been repeatedly hit with a hammer.
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