Man Sentenced to 27 Years for Murdering Estranged Wife

Raymond Williams, 61, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for the murder of his estranged wife, Tania Williams, 49. The crime occurred after Williams observed his wife interacting with another man during a night out in Norwich, Norfolk.

Tania Williams was discovered by neighbors in a pool of blood outside her home and was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses reported hearing her scream, 'What are you going to do, kill me?' before her throat was cut with a craft knife.

Williams, who previously worked as a PCSO in Norfolk for nine months before resigning in 2005, was found guilty of murder following a 17-day trial at Norwich Crown Court. The court heard that Williams was "consumed with jealousy." He denied the murder, but a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

CCTV footage presented during the trial showed Williams tracking his estranged wife from bar to bar on the night of the murder. He was seen approaching a man Tania was with, asserting they were still married and pointing to his wedding ring. Williams was later observed searching for Tania, eventually locating her at a venue called Revolucion de Cuba. The footage depicted them leaving together, with Tania appearing to distance herself from him.

After Tania left the venue to catch a bus home, Williams was seen jogging to his parked car. Security footage later showed his vehicle parked on Yarmouth Road, where he appeared to wait for Tania. She was seen on CCTV getting off her bus and walking towards her home.

Neighbors reported hearing screams around 11:30 p.m. Williams was arrested at his accommodation within two hours of the murder. Bodycam footage from the arrest showed him wearing different clothing, indicating he had disposed of his original outfit in an attempt to evade forensic detection. Investigators also noted him acting suspiciously around bins in alleyways and discarding a watch given to him by Tania down a drain.

During sentencing, Judge Anthony Bate stated, "It is plain that you intended to kill Tania. You were an angry and jealous man and in deadly earnest." The judge noted that Williams "showed forensic awareness and took steps to conceal your movements by switching off your phone…You sent bogus messages of concern in regards to Tania’s whereabouts." The judge added that Williams would be "a very old man" upon his release.

Tania's family expressed relief that the legal process was over. Her brother, Wayne Bullock, stated, "We’re just glad it’s all over and we can get on with our lives." Church members also attended the sentencing, with one describing the devastating impact of the murder on their community. Tania's mother, Jennifer, did not attend court due to her age and the emotional toll of the case.

Williams will serve a total of 26 years and 118 days, taking into account the 247 days he has already spent in custody on remand, before he can be considered for parole.