LATEST UPDATE: Ann Widdecombe was ‘attacked day before body was found’ as hunt for killer continues

Any case, we're going back to the story of Anne Whittacombe and we are hoping to get some live breaking news from Devon for you.Because the 26 -year -old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder following Anne's death has been released from police custody.Devon and Cornwall Police have said the man is no longer part of the investigation, which begs so, so many questions.So let's go now live to Devon and speak to GB News national reporter Jack Carson.

Jack, good to see you.Thank you.Good afternoon to Dawn.Yeah, good afternoon to you.Well, let me just bring you some new breaking lines that we're getting from the Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman from Devon and Cornwall Police.They have confirmed in the last few moments that they believe the attack on Ann Widdicombe took place place on Wednesday the 8th of July at around 12 .30pm.

will are still believed to be looking for a white male as their suspect.But also interestingly, the line that we're getting as well.is that they are saying the death is being treated as suspicious but we do not believe there is a wider risk to the public that I'm sure will be reassuring for members of this local community and and the police that have been reassuring this community in their patrols but interestingly that the police say they do not believe there is a wider risk to the public.There were questions towards the police in the press conference held yesterday as to whether the suspects possibly knew Ann Widdicombe, whether that this was a politically motivated attack.They certainly said in that stage that they were keeping an open mind.I just think it's interesting that they've included that belief from the police that there is no wider risk to the public.

They've also confirmed, of course, the information that inquiries We were here well into the evening yesterday and facilities being brought for those investigations to continue overnight, but also in the property and Whitacombe's property behind me, we have seen those familiar sights of officers in white suits who have been conducting more investigations as we've gone on into the morning.They say they remain committed, Devon and Cornwall Police, to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the incident and of course, just reiterate again, that when Ann Riddicombe was found by those paramedics when they were called to the property Thursday morning, they found her deceased within the property.with having sustained serious injuries.Now, of course, her family and friends are being supported by specialist officers.But I think the biggest line and news line from this latest update, Dawn, is that they believe the attack took place on Wednesday the 8th of July at around 12 .30 p .

m.Just to clarify, Jack, this is still a murder inquiry, is it?

Yep, absolutely.So that was something obviously that we were looking to this morning when we got that news that the man that had been arrested had been released.They are absolutely still considering this a murder inquiry.This investigation is being ran by the force's major crime investigation team.They are still in the process, in the early stages of that murder investigation.So nothing has changed on that front.

It's just interesting that it was 12 .30 on the Wednesday and of course police called to this address some nearly 24 hours later when of course they were first called to this address and they are treating this still as a suspicious death.

There's a question as well that everyone's going to scream at their TVs now.The police are saying there is no wider risk to the public.Well if they don't know who did it, how do they know that?

Well this is what is really interesting to me Dawn and I'm trying to work it out myself and hopefully we'll be able to get some more information and clarification for you on that from the police because like you say you know for this community which is so rural we're down a single farm track lane essentially.We're surrounded by fields and a beautiful Dartmoor National Park yet somebody has clearly attacked a 78 year old womanAnne Whittacombe, she has died from the result of that attack, and yet the police are saying there's no wider risk to the public.So have they got more information as to the motive behind this attack that they are not telling us?Of course, they have asked for no speculation, but as we've spoken so many times before, Dawn, when you get to this situation where there is this vacuum of information, people, of course, are going to ask rightfully those questions.So we're going to try and get some more clarification for you on that.

But yeah, I did think it was interesting that they say there is no wider risk to the public at this time but they are looking for a suspect which they described as being a white male.

Okay Jack, are they expecting to hold another press conference today at any time?

Well, they've indicated that there could be further updates later today.They have told us that they will update us as soon as possible with further updates.Of course, we've been asking since this morning for some more clarification on some of the points from their statement that they released very early this morning, around half six this morning.So it was not a surprise to me that we got some more information, given the amount, of course, public interest in this and especially concern from across the political spectrum about the safety of our public officials and even those who have retired.and still participate in those widely in public life and in public events.So yeah, it would not surprise me Dawn if we get further updates later today.

Okay, well it would be very interesting to hear what they've got to say.GB News national reporter Jack Carlson live in Devon Forest and we will be going back to Jack.as soon as we have any more information on that.Because like me, you've probably got so many questions.What does this mean?I mean, you know, no wider threat to the public.

Well, do you know who's done it?Why they've done it then?I mean, why is there no wider threat?And obviously, when there's a vacuum of news, you know what happens.It's on social media and people coming out with all sorts of conspiracy theories.Okay, so now let's talk about

another friend of Anne Widdicombe's, Benedict Rogers.Benedict, I'm so sorry for your loss.I mean, I was lucky enough to work with Anne.I wish I could have called her a proper friend because she was an amazing lady.The times that I spent with her, I absolutely adored her, to be honest with you, and I'm devastated and I didn't even know her as well as you did.How are you feeling now?

What does this mean to you?

Well, it's obviously a huge shock.When I first heard the news, which I heard through the news reports, but also through a friend who was much closer to her than I was, that she had died.And that was before any suggestion that it was murder.I was obviously very sad.I was surprised because although she was 78, she was incredibly energetic and full of life and was doing media interviews just a day or two before her death.But I thought that It's sad, but maybe she's died of a heart attack or a stroke or something.

And I was unbelievably shocked when I heard that it was a murder.And I think the thing that particularly shocks me, I mean, it's appalling, whoever it is, and the fact that it was someone as remarkable as Anne.But even more tragic is the fact that five years ago, her closest parliamentary friend, David Amos, who was also a friend of mine, was murdered.And she was one of the closest people to David Amos's family.in the aftermath of his tragedy, and now she's been murdered.So it's absolutely horrific.

It is truly shocking.We've had three politicians in this country now murdered, if you include Joe Cox, within the space of 10 years.You have to ask, what on earth is going on?

That's right.Obviously, we're being asked not to speculate, and that's right.We don't know that Anne's murder was politically motivated.But nevertheless, as you say, three politicians in 10 years, and of course, across the country,political spectrum, Jo Cox was a wonderful Labour MP.I didn't know her personally, but I certainly knew people who did know her.

And we moved in similar circles because I work in the field of international human rights and humanitarian issues.So I knew of Jo Cox, and I knew personally quite well David Amess and Anne.

Now, in a recent interview, Anne said, when she was asked, how would I like to be remembered, she said, as a person who tried to do the right thing and who tried to be good and a loyal friend and a friend who seizes the day, because this is not a dress rehearsal, you only get one chance this side of eternity and this is it.Do you think that sums up, Anne, the Yan Yu Nu?

I think it sums her up beautifully.She was a quite remarkable person.I remember the first time I met her, and I only knew her by her very formidable political reputation.And so I was feeling somewhat daunted when I was unexpectedly due to meet her for the first time.But she very quickly put me at ease.She was someone who was incredibly kind, generous with her time.

full of, very much motivated by her Christian faith, which motivated her desire to do good.And she was someone who, even if you disagreed with her, and she had very deeply held beliefs that not everyone would agree with, she always defended her beliefs robustly, but showed respect and compassion and generosity to others, whatever their beliefs.So she was perfectly at ease with being in disagreement and not falling out with people.

She didn't suffer falls, did she?That's for sure.

No, she didn't.She came and helped me when I was a parliamentary candidate.a long time ago now in Durham.And at one moment, I lost the car.I mean, I forgot where I'd parked the car.And I had to admit this to Anne.

And for the next several minutes, she repeatedly said in her wonderfully sort of matron -like way.She said, think, Ben, think, think, think.And I have those words echoing in my mind.Think, Ben.And finally, we found the card.But that was because Anne was telling me to think.

I mean, she also had a great sense of humour and she told me off.I was covering a show, hosting another show on another channel, and she once told me off live on air, with her tongue in her cheek.But it was like being told off by your mum all the time.It's only worse than being told off by your mum.It was live on TV.But she didn't...

I don't think she had a bad bone in her body.Her beliefs were her beliefs.And she stuck to those beliefs, which is so rare in politics today.

That's exactly right.And she had such a sense of deeply held beliefs, but such a sense of fun as well.The first time I met her was actually on Trove Tuesday, actually with David Amos and another close friend of theirs, Lord Alton.And we ended up having dinner together in a Greek restaurant in Pimlico.And she was prying me with Retsina.But she was doing so in the knowledge that she was giving up alcohol for Lent.

And as she filled up my glass with Retsima for the umpteenth time, she looked at me with her beady eye and said, are you giving up alcohol for Lent?And one of the other guests turned to me and said, well, you are now.

And did you give up after that one?

I'm not sure I did that Lent, but I have done subsequent Lents.

And Benedict, I have to ask, because obviously we don't know what happened to Anne, we don't know the motivation, but some of the comments about her online, when the news of her death and lossthe news of her murder broke, have been absolutely vile from people that really should know better.What do you make of what some people are saying?

Well, I agree.I mean, on a positive note, I have been heartened by the majority of people across the political spectrum who have said, you know, we may not have agreed with all her views, but she was a courageous conviction politician.But to those who have said more unpleasant things, I just think they should know better.A 78 -year -old woman who has contributed so much to public life and public service, we ought to be able to honour her on this tragic day and not not resort to vile abuse.

Yeah, and Benedict, one of my favourite quotes from her recent interviews was, something stands and falls by truth not by popularity.Don't you think that would be a very interesting motto for some of today's politicians to actually take on board?

Absolutely, yes.I think she was the epitome of that phrase.She stood for what she believed to be true, regardless of whether it was popular or not.

Yeah, indeed, and that's a great epitaph.Thank you so much for joining us.That's Benedict Rogers there, a friend of Anne Widdicombe.