Man guilty of murdering estranged wife after unanimous jury verdict
Raymond Williams had denied the murder of mother-of-four Tania Williams but was found guilty by a jury
A man who murdered his estranged wife near her home in Norwich has been convicted of her murder following a trial at Norwich Crown Court.
Raymond Williams, 61, currently of HMP Norwich, Knox Road, had denied the murder of mother-of-four Tania Williams, but a jury of five women and seven men today (Thursday 20 August) returned a unanimous guilty verdict following a 17-day trial.
The court heard how police were called to Catherine Gardens in Norwich at 11.41pm on Saturday 17 January 2026 after reports a woman had been seriously injured in the street.
Tania, aged 49, was found with severe injuries and significant blood loss.
Despite the efforts of emergency services, she was pronounced dead at the scene at 11.53pm.
A Home Office post-mortem examination later confirmed the cause of death as blood loss resulting from wounds to her neck. A blood-stained craft blade was recovered nearby.
During the trial, jurors heard details of the breakdown of Williams' and Tania's relationship and the events leading up to her death.
The couple had been married for 26 years and had three children together. Tania also had a fourth child, now an adult, living in the US. They had separated in September 2025, with Williams moving out of the family home.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on 17 January Williams had gone from venue to venue in an attempt to locate Tania who was on a night out with friends in the city.
He was seen on CCTV searching for Tania in Norwich city centre before eventually locating her in Revolucion de Cuba. Further footage captured both of them walking out of the venue with Tania appearing to be trying to distance herself from him.
The two separate and Williams' phone is powered off. He is then seen jogging along Wensum Street towards his car. Tania walks along Prince of Wales Road on her own before travelling home by bus, stepping off the bus near her address at approximately 11.33pm.
Security footage also showed a vehicle matching Williams' white Vauxhall Corsa parked nearby on Yarmouth Road minutes before Tania is attacked.
Police dashcam footage shows the vehicle matching the description of Williams’ vehicle had left as they arrived at the scene.
Witnesses living in Catherine Gardens would later report hearing screams and voices outside
When they went into the street, they discovered Tania lying on the ground with serious injuries. No witnesses saw Williams, or any other person, at the scene.
Tania's belongings were recovered from a grassed area close to her home, alongside blood staining and the craft blade.
Williams' vehicle was subsequently located parked on Dereham Road near his home address. Officers found blood staining on the inside of the driver's window and at multiple locations within the car which proved a match for Tania.
Further CCTV evidence showed Williams making multiple trips from his home to various locations nearby on foot.
He is seen to discard his watch down a drain, and subsequent searches of the area he was seen to visit found knife packaging lodged on a roof.
Williams was also seen to change his clothes, although the ones he was wearing when he carried out the attack were never found.
He was arrested at 2.43am in the street outside his home address in Dereham Road on 18 January.
While in custody, Williams refused to provide nail clippings voluntarily. Samples had to be obtained under the appropriate legal powers.
He answered "no comment" to all questions put to him during police interviews
Jurors also heard evidence relating to a previous incident involving Williams and Tania.
In April 2019, Williams was alleged to have attended Tania's address following a night out and assaulted and threatened her. Although Tania later withdrew her statement and the investigation was discontinued, evidence relating to the incident was heard during the trial.
Following the verdict, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Sam Pontin said:
"Today's verdict will not bring Tania back. Her family and loved ones have suffered an unimaginable loss.
"Tania was a mother, daughter, friend and much-loved member of her community, and our thoughts remain firmly with those who continue to grieve her death.
"I would like to pay tribute to Tania's family, who have shown remarkable strength and dignity throughout this investigation and trial. They have supported the investigation from the very beginning and have endured the extremely difficult process of hearing the evidence presented in court.
"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 was remanded into custody and is due to be sentenced at Norwich Crown Court for sentencing on 25 September 2026.