Man jailed for life for murdering estranged wife

An "angry and jealous" man has been jailed for life for murdering his estranged wife after he tracked her down on a night out.

Raymond Williams, 61, went from venue to venue trying to find Tania Williams while she was out with friends in Norwich on 17 January.

Later that night, the 49-year-old mother of four was found with severe wounds to her neck near her home in Thorpe St Andrew. She died of blood loss at the scene.

Texas-born Williams denied murder but was convicted after a 17-day trial in August and Judge Anthony Bate told the killer he must serve a minimum of 27 years before he would be eligible for parole.

Jurors had heard how the couple, who married in 2000, had three children together, but Williams moved out of the family home when their relationship broke down.

On the night of the murder, footage captured him searching the city centre, before eventually finding Tania in Revolución de Cuba on Queen Street.

They were seen walking out together, with Tania trying to distance herself.

The pair then separated and security footage showed a vehicle matching Williams' car parked on Yarmouth Road, near Catherine Gardens, minutes before Tania was attacked.

At 23:40 GMT, neighbours reported hearing screams and voices outside and found Tania lying on the ground with "significant" blood loss. She died shortly before 00:00.

A craft knife was recovered near the scene and blood stains matching Tania's were found inside Williams' car.

He was arrested outside his home in Dereham Road, Norwich, at 02:45.

The jury was told of a previous allegation that Williams threatened and assaulted Tania in April 2019. The investigation was discontinued when she withdrew her complaint, Norfolk Police said.

Tributes poured in after Tania's murder and about 350 people attended her funeral.

Prosecution barrister Christopher Jeyes KC read a victim impact statement on behalf of the family.

In it Tania's brother, Wayne Bullock, described her as a "fun-loving outgoing and kind person".

The family described how they were struggling to come to terms with the loss, saying "the pain is even greater as Tania was a mother".

"We will always love her, always miss her, and do everything we can to keep her alive, especially for her children."

Judge Bate described the murder as "plainly a targeted ambush" and a "brutal attack".

He added: "You could not accept your relationship was over and she was going her own way.

"You intended to kill Tania. You are an angry and jealous man and you acted in earnest."

After the court hearing, Det Insp Sam Pontin said: "Today is about Tania and the family she leaves behind.

"Nothing can undo the pain they have suffered or bring Tania back, but we hope this sentence provides some measure of justice for those who loved her.

"Williams continued to monitor and follow Tania following the breakdown of their relationship, culminating in this brutal attack.

"This was a complex investigation with no direct eyewitnesses and required officers to piece together significant amounts of CCTV, forensic and digital evidence to establish exactly what happened that night."

Tania's niece, Abigail Larkowsky, told the BBC her aunt was a "beacon of light for all who knew her".

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