Raymond Williams, 61, has been found guilty of murdering his estranged wife Tania Williams, 49, after following her on a night out in Norwich and slashing her throat outside her home. The former Norfolk police community support officer was convicted following a trial at Norwich Crown Court, which heard he had been "consumed with jealousy".
Night out turned deadly
Tania Williams, a mother of four, was found with severe injuries and significant blood loss close to her home in Thorpe St Andrew, Norfolk. Despite the best efforts of neighbours and paramedics, she died at the scene.
Footage shown to the jury captured Williams "going from bar to bar" to track her down. CCTV showed him leaving his flat in shared accommodation in Dereham Road before heading into the city centre. The trial heard he approached a man she was with, telling him they were still married and pointing to his wedding ring.
Lying in wait
Williams is then seen on CCTV searching for Tania before locating her at Revolucion de Cuba on Queen Street. Both then walked out of the venue, with Tania appearing to distance herself from him. As she headed towards a bus stop, Williams was seen jogging down Wensum Street towards his white Vauxhall Corsa parked on Fishergate.
Security footage showed the car parked on Yarmouth Road as he "laid in wait" for Tania, who was then seen getting off her bus and walking towards her home in Catherine Gardens. At 11.30pm, neighbours heard screams, including a female voice saying: "What are you going to do? Kill me?", before Tania was discovered lying in a "pool of blood".
Arrest and evidence
Two hours later, armed police arrested Williams at his accommodation. He had changed his clothes completely after disposing of everything he wore earlier in the evening to avoid forensic detection. CCTV showed him acting suspiciously around bins and dropping his watch, a gift from Tania, down a drain.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Sam Pontin said: "This was a thorough and complex investigation involving officers and staff from across the force. Thanks to the strength of the evidence presented, the jury was able to reach its verdict and hold Williams accountable for his actions. While no verdict can undo the pain caused by Tania's death, I hope today's outcome provides her family with some measure of justice."
Williams will be sentenced on September 21.
