A wife-killer who has never told police where he dumped her body has been blocked from walking free from prison after a High Court intervention.
Glyn Razzell, jailed for life in 2003 for murdering mum-of-four Linda, who vanished on her commute to Swindon College, had been cleared for release earlier this year. But in a surprise move, the Ministry of Justice stepped in to halt the decision, insisting his refusal to reveal what happened to her should stop him ever tasting freedom.
Ministry of Justice challenge
Earlier this week, barristers for the MoJ told a hearing that the Parole Board had failed to assess Razzell's risk adequately, and that the decision to free him should be reversed, the Mirror reports.
The MoJ added that Razzell's release could undermine public confidence. Relatives of Mrs Razzell also urged the court to block the release, with her cousin Julie Westmore saying the family "will not feel safe". Julie added that her family fear "all hope of ever finding Linda's remains will be lost" if the killer is freed.
Court hearing details
The court also heard from Linda Razzell's partner, Greg Worrall, who claimed that Razzell was exerting "coercive control over people even in death". Razzell attended the London hearing, opposing the move, with his barristers telling the court that there was no basis to overturn the decision.
Razzell has repeatedly insisted during earlier parole hearings that he is innocent, claiming he does not know what happened to his wife and suggesting he is not convinced she is dead. His conviction followed the discovery of traces of her blood in a car he had borrowed.
Judge's ruling
Delivering her ruling on Friday (August 14), Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb overturned the Parole Board's decision, saying she was "not satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that Glyn Razzell be confined".
"I am not persuaded that the risk has diminished to such a level that offender management is capable of keeping the public safe if the defendant is released," she explained.
Razzell, who has been in an open prison for the last nine years, lost a parole bid three times before his latest hearing. Previously, in 2021, he became the first person to be denied parole under Helen's Law - which forces the board to consider a killer's refusal to reveal a victim's body when deciding on their release.
Appearing via video link at the High Court on Thursday, Mr Worrall said: "We have rebuilt our lives based on the fact [Razzell] cannot harm us any more."
He said that during Razzell's multiple parole applications, he could "show remorse" and disclose where Mrs Razzell's remains were, adding: "we need an end to this ongoing agony."
