The precise medical cause of death of former Conservative MP and Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe is "yet to be established", a coroner's court heard on Tuesday. The inquest, opened at County Hall in Exeter, revealed that the 78-year-old was found dead by an employee at her isolated bungalow in Haytor, Devon, on July 9 after concerns were raised for her welfare.
Inquest Details
Senior Devon Coroner Philip Spinney read a statement from a coroner's officer, stating: "Concerns were raised that Ms Widdecombe was uncontactable so an employee who was due at the home address was asked to conduct a welfare check. Ms Widdecombe was located within her property. She was found to be unresponsive and with visible injuries. The emergency services were called and she was sadly declared deceased at the scene. A postmortem examination has taken place and at this stage the precise medical cause of death is yet to be established."
Mr Spinney confirmed that Ms Widdecombe was single, born in Bath, and lived at Widdecombe's Rest in Haytor Vale, where she was declared dead at 12.20pm on July 9. He noted: "For the police this has been and continues to be an intensive and complex investigation."
Murder Charge and Court Appearance
The inquest hearing came as Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, prepares to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court later on Tuesday, charged with Ms Widdecombe's murder. Kerry, understood to have been unemployed since working as an office administrator up until two years ago, was originally arrested on suspicion of murder on July 11.
Mr Spinney announced: "Today, a 28-year-old gentleman is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court charged with Ms Widdecombe's murder. Therefore, shortly after the conclusion of this hearing I will be taking steps to formally suspend the inquest... until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings." He added: "It is plain that Ms Widdecombe was much loved and greatly missed and it's important we all understand the impact the loss of life has had on those who mourn. I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the family of Ms Widdecombe."
Timeline of Events
Ms Widdecombe was killed in her home on July 8, just half an hour before she was scheduled to appear via video call on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show. She had last messaged a producer at 12.19pm but failed to respond to a text at 12.48pm. The inquest remains suspended pending the outcome of criminal proceedings.
