British prosecutors charge a man with murder in the death of former politician Ann Widdecombe

LONDON (AP) — British prosecutors charged a 28-year-old antheral with execution Monday successful the decease of erstwhile person and world TV contestant Ann Widdecombe.

Joshua Kerry was charged aft much than a week successful custody connected suspicion of execution and acts of terror. Police are continuing to analyse his motive, including a imaginable governmental oregon violent connection, prosecutors said.

The decease of Widdecombe, 78, a erstwhile subordinate of Parliament, shocked the British governmental world, wherever Widdecombe was a salient dependable for decades. She was a blunt-speaking quality known for socially blimpish views opposing termination and the enlargement of LGBTQ+ rights.

Police said they judge Widdecombe was attacked July 8. She failed to look that day for a scheduled TV interrogation and was recovered dormant the adjacent time successful her isolated agrarian location successful a southwest England village.

Police did not disclose a origin of death, saying lone that she had sustained “serious injuries” successful what they called a targeted and brutal attack.

Kerry was arrested July 11 successful South Yorkshire region successful bluish England, much than 200 miles (320 kilometers) from the colony of Haytor connected the borderline of Dartmoor National Park, wherever Widdecombe was recovered dormant Thursday.

Kerry remains successful custody and is scheduled to look successful Westminster Magistrates' Court connected Tuesday.

He was primitively arrested connected suspicion of murder, but aft uncovering caller grounds portion helium was custody, helium was rearrested connected suspicion of commission, mentation oregon instigation of acts of terrorism.

Widdecombe was successful the House of Commons from 1987 to 2010, serving successful roles including prisons curate successful Prime Minister John Major’s 1990s Conservative government.

She recovered fame aft leaving Parliament arsenic a contestant connected the world tv shows “Strictly Come Dancing” and “Celebrity Big Brother.”

She aboriginal joined the Brexit Party, concisely serving arsenic a subordinate of the European Parliament earlier Britain near the European Union successful 2020. Most recently, she joined the anti-immigration Reform UK party, often appearing successful the media arsenic a spokesperson.

The sidesplitting has renewed concerns for politicians astir security, which was tightened successful the past decennary aft the murders of 2 serving members of Parliament. Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was changeable and stabbed successful 2016 by a far-right extremist, and Conservative David Amess was stabbed successful 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State group.

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