英国前保守党议员安·威德康姆（Ann Widdecombe）于2024年7月在德文郡家中遭到暴力袭击身亡。28岁的约书亚·克里（Joshua Kerry）因谋杀罪被控 [1][2]。
威德康姆现年78岁，曾任梅德斯通选区议员（1987-2010年）及监狱部长 [1][2]。她在7月8日中午遭克里用锤子击打，随后于7月9日在海托村的住所被发现身亡 [1][2]。检察官指控克里用锤子击中威德康姆头部21次，造成钝器创伤 [1][2]。
克里于7月11日在南约克郡罗瑟勒姆被捕，距离犯案地点超过250英里 [2]。他在威斯敏斯特地方法院出庭时仅确认身份，未认罪 [2]，之后被送往中央刑事法院（Old Bailey）[1]。
案件随后由反恐部门接手 [1]。克里被重新逮捕，罪名涉及实施、准备或煽动与恐怖主义相关的行为 [1]。检方和反恐部门正在调查其犯案动机是否具有政治或恐怖主义背景 [1]。案件下次出庭定于10月9日在中央刑事法院进行 [2]。
Ann Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former Conservative Member of Parliament, was found dead in her home in Haytor, Devon after being struck repeatedly with a hammer [1][2]. Joshua Kerry, 28, has been arrested and charged with her murder [1][2].
Prosecutors stated that Widdecombe was struck on the head 21 times [1][2]. The attack occurred on July 8 while she was having lunch at her residence [2], and she was discovered dead the following day [1].
Kerry was arrested on July 11 in South Yorkshire, more than 250 miles away from the crime scene [2]. He appeared in Westminster magistrates court on Tuesday afternoon, where he confirmed his identity but did not enter a plea [2]. He was subsequently remanded to the Old Bailey [1].
The case has been taken over by counterterrorism authorities [1]. Kerry has been re-arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism [1]. Prosecutors and counterterrorism officials are investigating whether the killing was motivated by political or terrorist ideology [1][2].
Widdecombe served as the Member of Parliament for Maidstone from 1987 to 2010 [1][2] and previously held the position of prison minister [2]. She later became a spokesperson for Reform UK [1].
Kerry's next court appearance is scheduled for October 9 at the Central Criminal Court [2].