The inquest opening came a day after police charged Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham, with murdering the former Tory MP. He is due to appear in court later today
Ann Widdecombe’s precise medical cause of death is “yet to be established”, a coroner’s court heard today.
The short hearing heard the former Cabinet Minister and Reform UK spokesperson was found dead by an employee inside her isolated bungalow on July 9 after concerns were raised for her welfare.
Sitting at County Hall in Exeter, Senior Devon Coroner Philip Spinney read a written statement from a coroner’s officer. It said: “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 said Ms Widdecombe was single, was born in Bath, and lived at Widdecombe’s Rest in Haytor Vale, the same address where he said she was declared dead at 12.20pm on July 9. He said: “For the police this has been and continues to be an intensive and complex investigation.
“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. That brings this hearing to a close.”
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.”
This morning’s hearing came as the suspect in the case prepares to appear at Westminster magistrates court later today. Police charged Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham, South Yorks, with the murder of the former MP on Monday.
Kerry, who is 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.
Ms Widdecombe was killed in her house on July 8, just half an hour before she was set to appear via video call on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show. The 78-year-old had last messaged a producer at 12.19pm, but failed to respond to a text at 12.48pm.