A 28-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe, who was found dead at her remote Devon home after failing to join a scheduled television interview.

Joshua Kerry, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, stood in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court as prosecutors outlined the case against him. The court heard that Ms Widdecombe, 78, suffered blunt-force injuries to the head and had been struck 21 times with a hammer. Kerry was remanded in custody and later appeared at the Old Bailey, where a provisional trial date of 8 June 2027 was set.

Ms Widdecombe was killed at her bungalow on the edge of Dartmoor National Park on 8 July 2026. She had been due to appear via video link on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show at 12:50pm that day. Production staff noted she had last messaged a producer at 12:19pm but did not respond to a follow-up text at 12:48pm. After repeated attempts to contact her over the next 24 hours, her secretary asked a gardener to carry out a welfare check. The gardener found her body on the kitchen floor on 9 July. Emergency services were called and police arrived shortly after midday.

According to the prosecution outline given by Kashif Malik at the magistrates’ court hearing, Ms Widdecombe had been sitting by the entrance to her kitchen eating lunch when a red Vauxhall Corsa was captured on a Ring doorbell camera pulling up outside the property. Kerry was alleged to have been inside the bungalow for approximately two minutes. Prosecutors said he tipped Ms Widdecombe from her chair, removed a wallet from her handbag, and left. The front door was found held open by a doorstop.

A provisional cause of death was given by a pathologist as blunt-force injury to the head. An inquest opening at Exeter Coroner’s Court heard that a full medical cause of death had yet to be formally established; senior coroner Philip Spinney suspended the inquest pending the conclusion of criminal proceedings.

Kerry was arrested three days after the killing, on 11 July, at his home in Rotherham, some 265 miles from the Devon address. Armed officers detained him on suspicion of murder. He was described in court as having been unemployed since working as an office administrator until roughly two years earlier. During the short magistrates’ hearing he confirmed his name, date of birth and address in a strong Yorkshire accent. Dressed in a grey sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms, he sat with arms folded, flanked by security and plain-clothes officers, and appeared calm.

After the magistrates’ appearance, Kerry was driven under escort across London to the Old Bailey by counter-terror officers. At the higher court, prosecutor Alistair Richardson confirmed the remand in custody. Kerry is next due to appear for a case-management hearing on 9 October, followed by a plea and trial preparation hearing on 20 November.

Ms Widdecombe had a long public career. First elected as a Conservative MP for a Kent seat in 1987, she later served as an MEP for the Brexit Party and acted as a spokeswoman for Reform UK. She was also known for appearances on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood paid tribute, saying Ms Widdecombe had “dedicated her life to politics and public service” for nearly 40 years, bringing “conviction… grounded in her profound Catholic faith” and an “inimitable style.” Prime Minister Andy Burnham called for a serious review of the safety of MPs and public figures following the death.

The case has drawn attention to the vulnerability of high-profile individuals living in relatively isolated locations. Ms Widdecombe’s home was described as remote, on the edge of a national park. The speed of the alleged attack—reportedly lasting only two minutes—and the use of a vehicle captured on domestic security footage form central elements of the prosecution account presented so far.

Kerry remains in custody. No further details of the investigation or forensic findings have been made public beyond the outline given in open court. The coroner has indicated that the formal inquest will remain suspended until the criminal process concludes. A full trial is not expected before mid-2027.

The death of a well-known former parliamentarian has prompted expressions of shock across the political spectrum. Colleagues and public figures have recalled her long service, distinctive public manner and willingness to argue for strongly held positions. At the same time, the court process continues on its standard timetable, with the defendant presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Further hearings will determine the next procedural steps. In the meantime, the provisional cause of death and the brief outline of events given by prosecutors remain the primary public account of how Ann Widdecombe, aged 78, came to be found dead in her Devon kitchen on 9 July 2026 after missing a scheduled media appearance the previous day.