Suspect charged with Ann Widdecombe murder to appear in court
Developed over time first seen 3 weeks ago
An inquest has heard that former Conservative politician and broadcaster Ann Widdecombe was bludgeoned around 21 times with a hammer in an attack caught on camera, after her killer entered through an open front door as she ate lunch in her kitchen. A suspect has since been charged with her murder and is due to appear in court, meaning criminal proceedings are now running alongside the coroner's inquiry into her death.
Her formal cause of death had not been established when the inquest was opened, though the account of the attack given at the hearing points to a violent assault at her home. As is standard once a murder charge has been brought, the inquest is expected to be adjourned pending the outcome of the criminal case, with a further hearing likely once those proceedings have concluded.
- Ann Widdecombe allegedly bludgeoned 21 times with a hammer at home
- Attack was caught on camera; killer entered through an open door
- Murder suspect charged, due in court; inquest adjourned meanwhile
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Ann Widdecombe was a well-known figure in British public life, having served as a Conservative MP and government minister before becoming a broadcaster and media personality in later years. She died after being attacked at her home, and an inquest, the legal process that examines the circumstances of a death, has been hearing details of what happened. A person has now been charged with her murder.
Because a criminal charge has been brought, the case now involves two separate legal processes running side by side: the police and courts will deal with prosecuting the accused, while the inquest, run by a coroner, looks into the facts of how she died. It is normal practice for an inquest to pause once someone faces trial, so as not to interfere with the criminal proceedings.
The case matters both because of Widdecombe's public profile and because it involves serious questions about how the attack occurred at her own home. The charged suspect is due to appear in court, which marks the next formal step in bringing the case to trial.
More coverage
- feeds.bbci.co.uk — Cause of Ann Widdecombe's death not yet established, inquest hears
- The Star (Sheffield) — Cause of Ann Widdecombe’s death yet to be established, inquest hears
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Ann Widdecombe’s cause of death is yet to be established, inquest hears as suspect charged with her murder is due to appear in court”.