Security camera footage shown in a London court has revealed that Ann Widdecombe, a prominent British Conservative politician, was struck 21 times on the head with a hammer during a brief but deadly attack at her home. Prosecutors described the assault, which took place on 8 July, as a "planned and targeted" attack on the 78-year-old former parliamentarian.

Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham in South Yorkshire, northern England, is accused of entering Widdecombe's home in Haytor — a small village on Dartmoor, in the southwest of England — while she was eating lunch. According to prosecutor Alistair Richardson, Kerry asked her whether she had any bank cards or identification, before striking her repeatedly on the head, pushing her from her chair, and taking her purse. Prosecutors told the court he was inside the property for only two minutes. Kerry was arrested in South Yorkshire, more than 400 kilometres from the scene, three days after the attack. A hammer and black gloves bearing Widdecombe's DNA were reportedly found in bins near his home.

Widdecombe's body was discovered the following day by her gardener, after she failed to appear for a pre-arranged live interview on Channel 5. Her personal assistant had asked the gardener to check on her after she did not show up. Kerry appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court and later a criminal court in London, speaking only to confirm his name, date of birth, and address. He was remanded in custody and is due back in court on 9 October ahead of trial.

Police, including counter-terrorism officers who assumed control of the investigation, are continuing to examine whether there was a political or terrorist motive behind the killing. Kerry was re-arrested under anti-terrorism legislation following his initial detention.

Widdecombe served as a Conservative member of parliament from 1987 to 2010, holding ministerial roles including Minister of State for Employment and Prisons Minister under Prime Minister John Major. She became a vocal advocate for Brexit during the 2016 referendum and subsequently served as a Member of the European Parliament for Nigel Farage's Brexit Party, before becoming immigration and justice spokesperson for its successor party, the right-populist Reform UK. Her death has shocked British public opinion and prompted tributes from across the political spectrum, including from former Prime Minister Liz Truss.