LONDON: Former British government minister Ann Widdecombe was killed by a man who struck her on the head 21 times with a hammer while she was eating lunch at home earlier this month, prosecutors told a London court on Tuesday.

Widdecombe, 78, a pro­minent figure in Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK party, was found dead at her home in rural southwest England on July 9 after being attacked the day before. The killing shocked British politics, raising further concerns about politicians’ security, with two serving British members of parliament having been killed since 2016.

Joshua Kerry, a white British national from Rotherham in northern England, more than 250 miles (402 km) from Widde­combe’s home, appeared in court on Tuesday charged with her murder.

The bearded 28-year-old, who appeared in the dock at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court wearing a grey tracksuit, was not asked to enter a plea.

Police have said they believe Widdecombe was targeted, although the motive remains under investigation. Prosecutors said an investigation into possible terrorism offences was ongoing.

Prosecutor Kashif Malik earlier said a camera inside Widdecombe’s home had captured the attack. Widdecombe had been due to be interviewed live on television on July 8 from her home but did not appear, Malik explained. The following day, her personal assistant asked her gardener to check on Widdecombe, and he found her on the kitchen floor.

Malik told the court that the recovered footage showed Kerry entering Widdecombe’s home while she was eating lunch and asking: “Don’t suppose you have bank cards and ID?” Kerry, who was wearing black gloves and holding a hammer to his side so it was hidden from Widdecombe’s view, then struck her 21 times, Malik said.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2026