Wife Killer Granted Parole Despite Refusing to Reveal Victim's Body Location
A convicted murderer who killed his wife and has persistently refused to disclose the location of her remains is set to be released from prison after a controversial Parole Board decision. Glyn Razzell, now in his late 60s, was found guilty in 2003 of murdering his estranged wife, Linda Razzell, who vanished in Swindon in 2002 while on her way to work.
Decades of Silence and Legal Battles
Razzell, who was 41 at the time of his conviction, has maintained his innocence throughout his imprisonment but has never revealed what happened to Linda's body. He has applied for parole multiple times since his sentencing, with his latest bid succeeding despite the board acknowledging the "continuing cruelty" of his refusal to provide closure to the victim's family.
The Parole Board's decision was based solely on an assessment of whether Razzell poses a risk to the public if released, concluding that his risk is manageable in the community. This ruling has ignited fury among Linda's family members, who argue it undermines Helen's Law, legislation enacted in 2020 to ensure the Parole Board considers the suffering caused by killers who withhold information about their victims' remains.
Family Outrage and Legal Scrutiny
Greg Worrall, who was engaged to Linda at the time of her disappearance, described the parole grant as "another level of stress to the family and myself." The family contends that the decision has "ripped up" Helen's Law, named after Helen McCourt, a murder victim whose killer similarly refused to reveal her remains until his death in 2022.
In response to the family's concerns, the Parole Board stated that denial to reveal a victim's body whereabouts "cannot be a bar to release." Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice confirmed it is exploring ways to contest the decision through a "reconsideration mechanism," with officials examining grounds to challenge the ruling on behalf of the Secretary of State for Justice.
Background of the Case
Linda Razzell was last seen in March 2002 while parking her car on Alvescot Road in Swindon, during ongoing divorce proceedings with her husband. Razzell initially participated in media appeals following her disappearance but was later arrested and convicted based on forensic evidence, including traces of her blood found in the boot of a car he had used.
He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 16 years. During a previous parole hearing in 2023, which resulted in a refusal, Razzell conceded that the victim "must be dead," having previously suggested she might still be alive. The latest decision, detailed in a document provided to the BBC, highlights the ongoing tension between rehabilitation efforts and the need for justice for victims' families.
