Man due in court charged with murder of Ann Widdecombe
BBC News 2026-07-21 06:26:07
Context: Joshua Kerry, a 28-year-old man from Rotherham in South Yorkshire, has been charged with the murder of Ann Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman, who was found with serious injuries at her home in Haytor, Devon. Kerry was first arrested on suspicion of murder two days after Widdecombe's death and was later re-arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. He is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
Key Facts
- Joshua Kerry, a 28-year-old man from Rotherham in South Yorkshire, has been charged with the murder of Ann Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman.
- Ann Widdecombe was found with serious injuries at her home in Haytor, Devon, on Thursday, 9 July, and Kerry was first arrested on suspicion of murder two days later.
- Kerry was later re-arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, and counter-terrorism police have gathered "a huge amount of information" over the last week, leading to more than 800 lines of enquiry.
- The investigation, led by Counter Terrorism Policing South East and supported by Devon and Cornwall Police, is ongoing, and police have stated that they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
- Laurence Taylor, head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, stated that understanding the motivations behind the murder is a key part of the investigation, describing it as "a particularly intensive and complex investigation".