On Saturday, Joshua Kerry was identified as the suspect in the murder of Ann Widdecombe. British police have now charged the 28-year-old.
Ann Widdecombe, 78, the veteran politician who represented Reform UK after defecting from the Conservative Party, was found dead at her home in Devon, south-west England, on 9 July.
“We have authorised the prosecution of Joshua Kerry for murder following a police investigation into the killing of Ann Widdecombe,” said Frank Ferguson of the Crown Prosecution Service on Monday evening, according to The Times.
“Our prosecutors have worked closely with the police to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case before the courts, and we will continue to work with them as the investigation progresses.
We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are ongoing and that he is entitled to a fair trial.”
Widdecombe served as a Conservative MP in the House of Commons for 23 years before defecting to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. She was Reform’s spokesperson on immigration and justice when she was killed.
Police initially arrested a young British man and quickly concluded that nothing indicated the murder was politically motivated. The man was released the following day, and on 12 July the 28-year-old was arrested.
In other words, the police almost immediately claimed that the murder was not politically motivated. However, the following day the counter-terrorism police took over the investigation, and Kerry was arrested on 12 July. Last week they concluded that Widdecombe had been killed in a targeted attack.
“Police inquiries into the defendant’s motives are ongoing, including whether there is a political or terrorist connection,” Ferguson said.
Kerry had previously been arrested on suspicion of committing, preparing or instigating acts of terrorism.