The man accused of murdering former UK politician Ann Widdecombe struck her 21 times in the head with a hammer before taking her wallet and leaving her home, a London court heard Tuesday.
Joshua Kerry, 28, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court after being charged with murder in the death of the 78-year-old former Conservative MP. Prosecutors said police are also investigating whether the killing had a political or terrorist motive.
According to prosecutor Kashif Malik, Widdecombe was eating lunch at her home in the village of Haytor, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in southwest England, when Kerry arrived, per the Associated Press.
Malik told the court Kerry repeatedly attacked Widdecombe with a hammer before leaving with her wallet. The provisional cause of death was listed as blunt force injuries to the head.
Kerry was charged with murder on Monday while already in police custody. He had initially been arrested on suspicion of murder after his July 11 arrest in South Yorkshire, more than 250 miles from Widdecombe's home. Prosecutors said he was later rearrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism after investigators uncovered additional evidence. Authorities have not announced a motive and said inquiries remain ongoing.
Police believe Widdecombe was attacked on July 8 after she failed to appear for a scheduled television interview that afternoon. Her body was discovered the following day by her gardener.
Widdecombe served as a Conservative member of Parliament from 1987 until 2010 and was prisons minister under Prime Minister John Major during the 1990s.
Joshua Kerry, 28, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court after being charged with murder in the death of the 78-year-old former Conservative MP. Prosecutors said police are also investigating whether the killing had a political or terrorist motive.
According to prosecutor Kashif Malik, Widdecombe was eating lunch at her home in the village of Haytor, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in southwest England, when Kerry arrived, per the Associated Press.
Malik told the court Kerry repeatedly attacked Widdecombe with a hammer before leaving with her wallet. The provisional cause of death was listed as blunt force injuries to the head.
Kerry was charged with murder on Monday while already in police custody. He had initially been arrested on suspicion of murder after his July 11 arrest in South Yorkshire, more than 250 miles from Widdecombe's home. Prosecutors said he was later rearrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism after investigators uncovered additional evidence. Authorities have not announced a motive and said inquiries remain ongoing.
Police believe Widdecombe was attacked on July 8 after she failed to appear for a scheduled television interview that afternoon. Her body was discovered the following day by her gardener.
Widdecombe served as a Conservative member of Parliament from 1987 until 2010 and was prisons minister under Prime Minister John Major during the 1990s.
