Joshua Kerry stands accused of bursting into Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe’s home before striking her 21 times with a hammer.
The 28-year-old then allegedly drove 265 miles back to his home in Rotherham.
The Home Secretary stated he was not previously known to Prevent, the UK’s anti-radicalisation programme while Nigel Farage has questioned his political leanings.
No motive for the attack has ever been established with counter terror police still probing more than 800 lines of inquiry.
What is he charged with doing?
Prosecutor Alistair Richardson said that on July 8, Miss Widdecombe did not attend a pre-arranged online interview at just before 1pm, which would have been aired live on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show.
The show’s production team tried to contact Miss Widdecombe through her personal assistant, who then asked the family gardener to check on her, the court heard.
Prosecutors said he found the politician lying face down on her kitchen floor with a serious head injury the next day, July 9.
Mr Richardson said that on July 8, Miss Widdecombe had been eating lunch when Kerry allegedly pulled up outside the front of her house in a red Vauxhall Corsa and entered through the front door.
A camera positioned in the hallway showed the 78-year-old politician sitting down eating lunch in the kitchen before the defendant entered via the front door and asked her: ‘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, the court heard.
He is accused of tipping her from her chair and taking a wallet out of her handbag before leaving and driving off, having only been in the house for two minutes, the court heard.
A provisional cause of death was given as a blunt force injury to the head, the court heard.
Mr Richardson said that Kerry had driven 265 miles from his home to carry out the ‘ferocity of violence’ in the ‘planned and targeted’ attack.
He was also arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism – but he has not been charged with this offence.
Who is Joshua Kerry?
Kerry had worked in an office for a lift manufacturer. He was described by neighbours as a loner living with just his dog since his father, an amputee who did ‘everything’ for him, died from cancer in December.
Neighbours said he rarely went out but was friendly when they did encounter him and would take in parcels for them.
His mother, a former teaching assistant, is believed to have moved away.
He is believed to have two brothers one who also left the area and the other who joined the Navy.
His uncle described him as ‘a quiet, polite lad, and very shy.’
‘The only thing I can think of is he’s been left on his own after his dad’s death and he’s spiralled.’
The 73-year-old told The Sun: ‘Never in a million years did I think he would be linked to this.
‘I’m just absolutely flabbergasted. I was in total shock when I found out about his arrest, but now I’m just numb.’
In 2022, Kerry was pictured at his office job holding up a jar of Easter eggs during a charity fundraiser for local sea cadets.
What happens next to Joshua Kerry?
The suspect has been remanded in custody after appearing at the Old Bailey charged with the murder of Ann Widdecombe.
Prosecutor Alistair Richardson told the court that before his arrest, Kerry was living in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, 265 miles from Widdecombe’s address in Devon.
Kerry will appear at the same court on 9 October for a case management hearing before a further plea and trial preparation hearing on 20 November.
A provisional trial date was listed for 8 June 2027.