A mother of four was heard screaming “What are you going to do, kill me?” before her estranged husband allegedly cut her throat with a craft knife, Norwich Crown Court was told. Tania Williams, 49, was discovered by neighbors in a pool of blood outside her home in Thorpe St Andrew, near Norwich, following the alleged attack and was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is said to have occurred when she returned home early after an argument with Raymond Williams, 61, while she was on a night out in Norwich.
The prosecution, led by Charles Myatt, stated that the blade of what appeared to be a craft knife was recovered from the area outside Mrs. Williams' house. Raymond Williams denies murdering his wife and is understood to be claiming he was not the person who stabbed her.
According to the prosecutor, Mrs. Williams had been out alone on the evening of January 17, visiting several bars and clubs and socializing with acquaintances. Her husband, Raymond Williams, was also in the city center that night. Although they were still married, they had separated the previous year and were in the process of finalizing their divorce.
CCTV footage from various locations reportedly shows Mr. Williams moving between bars, which the prosecution suggests was an attempt to find his wife. The court heard that he eventually found her, and the two appeared to have a disagreement. Following this, Mrs. Williams cut her evening short and took a bus home.
Mr. Myatt indicated that she was "fairly annoyed" about her evening being curtailed and sent text messages to friends on her way home. She was seen walking the short distance from the bus stop to her residence shortly after 11 p.m.
"However, before she reached her front door, she was attacked, and the prosecution case is that she was attacked by her husband Raymond Williams," the prosecutor told jurors.
Neighbors reported hearing a woman screaming "What are you going to do, kill me?" and other sounds of a commotion. By the time they investigated, Mr. Williams had reportedly left the scene. Neighbors found Tania Williams lying in the road a few meters from her address, in a pool of blood, with her throat cut. Paramedics and police arrived quickly, and she was pronounced dead at the scene approximately 20 minutes after the initial noise was heard.
A murder inquiry was launched, and police identified Williams as a suspect early on. He was arrested a few hours later at his home and interviewed, where he exercised his right to remain silent. He is expected to testify in court that he was not responsible for his wife's death and was elsewhere in the city at the time.
Judge Anthony Bate cautioned the jury not to discuss the case with anyone. The daughter of Mrs. Williams released a statement describing her mother as a committed Christian, passionate about her four children, and a giving, bubbly individual. The family intends to honor her memory by continuing her legacy of kindness and generosity, and by fulfilling her dreams.