A 61-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering his estranged wife after spending hours searching Norwich city centre for her before intercepting her close to her home.
Raymond Williams was convicted at Norwich Crown Court of murdering 49-year-old mother-of-four Tania Williams following a 17-day trial.
The court heard how Williams travelled between venues in Norwich on 17 January, apparently searching for his estranged wife.
CCTV captured him entering several bars before he eventually located Tania inside Revolución de Cuba on Queen Street, where she had been enjoying an evening with friends.
Footage subsequently showed the pair leaving together, with Tania appearing to keep her distance from Williams.
They separated shortly afterwards.
Screams were heard shortly before Tania was found dying
Minutes before the fatal attack, a vehicle matching Williams’ car was seen parked on Yarmouth Road, close to Tania’s home in Catherine Gardens, Thorpe St Andrew.
At around 11.40pm, neighbours heard screams and frantic shouting and rushed outside.
Tania was discovered collapsed with catastrophic injuries to her neck.
Despite efforts to save her, she died at the scene from severe blood loss.
A craft knife was recovered nearby, while the jury heard that blood matching Tania’s was subsequently discovered inside Williams’ vehicle.
Williams was arrested at around 2.45am outside his home on Dereham Road.
Previous allegation heard by jury
During the trial, jurors were also told about an allegation dating from April 2019, when Tania reported that Williams had threatened and assaulted her.
That case did not proceed after Tania withdrew her complaint.
Following the evidence presented during the 17-day trial, jurors returned a guilty verdict for murder.
Hundreds attended Tania’s funeral
Tania’s death prompted an outpouring of grief, with around 350 people attending her funeral.
Friends, colleagues and members of her church remembered her as a vibrant and caring woman who was always willing to help others.
Reverend James Stewart, of Thorpe St Andrew Church, said Tania was the type of person who would have been the “first to help anyone else” following a tragedy.
Colleagues at the Oxfam shop where she volunteered described her as “the kindest, most joyful person you could meet”.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Sam Pontin praised Tania’s family for the strength they had shown throughout the investigation and trial, during which they were required to hear distressing evidence surrounding her death.
Raymond Williams will be sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on 25 September.
