Former British politician Ann Widdecombe was found dead in her kitchen in Devon, with a pathologist confirming blunt force trauma to the head as the cause of death.
A court has heard that 28-year-old Joshua Kerry, accused of her murder, allegedly struck Widdecombe 21 times on the head with a hammer as she ate lunch.
Kerry, who was dressed in a grey tracksuit during a brief hearing, only spoke to confirm his name, date of birth, and address.
Prosecutor Kashif Malik alleged that Kerry pulled up outside Widdecombe's house in a red car, entered her kitchen, and struck her on the head 21 times before tipping her from her chair and taking her wallet.
The provisional cause of death was "blunt force injury to the head," but further investigation is needed to establish the precise medical cause of death.
Kerry was initially arrested on July 11 accused of murder, but was rearrested two days later on suspicion of commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism.
Laurence Taylor, assistant commissioner and head of counter-terror policing, said that over 800 lines of inquiry have been launched in the case, and that the investigation into Kerry's motivations and any wider activity he may have been involved in is ongoing.
Given Widdecombe's high-profile status and the targeted nature of the attack, determining the motivation, including any possible political motivation, remains an active area of investigation.
Widdecombe was a prominent right-wing voice and served as a Conservative MP from 1987 to 2010. She later joined Reform UK and served as the party spokesperson on immigration and justice.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage believes that Widdecombe's murder is politically motivated, citing the party's recent breakthroughs in elections and the resulting attacks from establishment parties and the media.
Farage claimed that the narrative surrounding Reform UK has been one of extremism and racism, with critics labeling the party as a threat to Britain.
