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Police launch an investigation into Ann Widdecombe death

(574 Posts)
62Granny Fri 10-Jul-26 15:45:03

breaking news on the BBC news site that they are investigating her death.
I didn't always agree with her opinions of her politics but would hate that her death had been tragic .RIP.

Silvershadow Tue 21-Jul-26 15:16:11

It’s all on the bbc so there for anybody to read. It’s utterly awful. Some lunatic who should be locked up for life. What’s scary is how many more of them are out there. Terrifying. 21 times with a hammer. Just unbelievable.

Wyllow3 Tue 21-Jul-26 15:21:42

Appalling. 800 lines of enquiry.
One huge hornets nest in there. But the number of blows… there’s a sick sick mind in there, whatever the connections .

surfsup Tue 21-Jul-26 15:27:33

Caught on ring doorbell then on another camera in the house. She was eating lunch and he asked her if she had any ID and bank cards then proceeded to hit her 21 times with the hammer then tipped her onto the floor and rifled her handbag. Apparently he was in there 2 minutes then left. Poor Ann. What a terrible way for her to die.

Silvershadow Tue 21-Jul-26 15:31:00

I still wonder whether that TV programme that just aired made it easy for him to see the insides of that bungalow. Maybe others in the public eye might want to think about that and the wisdom of exposing their homes on tv. Why her of all people?

MartavTaurus Tue 21-Jul-26 15:56:12

These days, you only need to go on rightmove (sold properies) to see photos and the layout of a property. Hers would be there.
I've not read about it yet, but why would he ask for her ID?

MT62 Tue 21-Jul-26 16:00:07

Poor lass, I hope it was quick 😞
Bloody bastard.

TerriBull Tue 21-Jul-26 16:06:02

21 times with hammer shock That displayed not only a frenetic violence but a committed hatred. Slightly different to the burglary gone wrong as originally reported.

MayBee70 Tue 21-Jul-26 16:09:50

Silvershadow

I still wonder whether that TV programme that just aired made it easy for him to see the insides of that bungalow. Maybe others in the public eye might want to think about that and the wisdom of exposing their homes on tv. Why her of all people?

They seem to say that it isn’t relevant but I don’t see how it can’t be given that it was shown on tv days before the murder.

Fallingstar Tue 21-Jul-26 17:10:29

Oh my goodness, how absolutely inhuman. To kill someone with such unbridled ferocity is beyond the pale, like others am hoping Anne died quickly.
The man is a monster.

SueDonim Tue 21-Jul-26 17:36:20

This is horrific. One can only hope the first blow knocked her out, what a dreadful end to a life. sad

I’m sitting here with the French wide doors open and now I’m wondering…. At least I’m not in a remote area, though I’m not sure that’s any protection.

Luckygirl3 Tue 21-Jul-26 17:41:09

Grim, just grim ...

Whitewavemark2 Tue 21-Jul-26 17:45:22

Did anyone see the BBC report?

So the artist impression of the court appearance bears zero similarity to the photo of him.

I’m not sure what to think tbh.

Silvershadow Tue 21-Jul-26 17:50:14

He’s had a haircut is all I can see that’s different.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 21-Jul-26 17:55:46

I’ve now seen a different artists impression - how many are there! - and that has greater similarity.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 21-Jul-26 18:04:39

The BBC news has changed the impression. I think they showed the wrong one when I first watched it.

Shinamae Tue 21-Jul-26 18:05:57

He will probably plead insanity and get some nice “hospital”
If I had my way people like this would go into proper dungeons, just enough food to keep them alive for many,many years and never see the light of day…
And I don’t care if you think that’s harsh these people deserve nothing less..
I would’ve wanted that for Ian Huntley as well… I know he’s now dead.. So no more suffering for him..

Smileless2012 Tue 21-Jul-26 18:25:16

OMG that poor woman shock sad.

Casdon Tue 21-Jul-26 18:31:26

Shinamae

He will probably plead insanity and get some nice “hospital”
If I had my way people like this would go into proper dungeons, just enough food to keep them alive for many,many years and never see the light of day…
And I don’t care if you think that’s harsh these people deserve nothing less..
I would’ve wanted that for Ian Huntley as well… I know he’s now dead.. So no more suffering for him..

He won’t, he has been remanded to Belmarsh. Whatever his warped reason, he has not been assessed as needing a secure mental health unit. .

pably15 Tue 21-Jul-26 18:35:25

It's unimaginable, the poor woman, how scared she must have been, I certainly hope he doesn't play the insanity card.what he did was pure evil.

Casdon Tue 21-Jul-26 18:35:42

PS by no stretch of the imagination are secure mental health facilities nice places to be.

MartavTaurus Tue 21-Jul-26 18:41:18

I don't know how this works, but if they've got the man as shown on the cctv at the scene of crime, why does it take until June 2027 for the case to come to court? Fgs.

Oreo Tue 21-Jul-26 18:43:25

It’s the fact that he drove all that way when neighbours say he hardly ever drove the car that’s strange isn’t it? Did he visit his brother first, who lives nearby to Haytor, are the things linked?
Did he desperately need money?

Casdon Tue 21-Jul-26 18:48:46

MartavTaurus

I don't know how this works, but if they've got the man as shown on the cctv at the scene of crime, why does it take until June 2027 for the case to come to court? Fgs.

I’m guessing the charges and length of the sentence might be impacted by the work being done by the Counter Terrorism officers? If he was charged on the basis of what they know for certain now, it may require a second court case later.

rafichagran Tue 21-Jul-26 18:53:29

MT62

Poor lass, I hope it was quick 😞
Bloody bastard.

Yes, those few words say it all. Pure Evil.

Iam64 Tue 21-Jul-26 19:05:19

Absolutely horrific, awful death for Ann W.

Secure hospital wards for the criminally insane are not ‘nice hospitals’. Ask anyone who has or does work on one.

Delay in court hearings have sadly become the norm. It’s shocking. A friend with life changing injuries after being hit, as a pedestrian, by. 56 year old man driving his Range Rover on coke and prescription drugs is still waiting for the trial. Meanwhile the perpetrator continues to drive. Women can. Wait years to give evidence in rape trials . All our public services need investment.