Wife murderer to remain in jail
The Ministry of Justice successfully applied to have Glyn Razzell's release blocked
Last updated 6 hours ago
Glyn Razzell, who murdered his estranged wife Linda in 2002, will remain in prison after the Parole Board’s decision to release him on licence was reversed at the High Court.
Razzell - from Crewkerne in Somerset - has been challenging attempts to block his release from prison, following his conviction for the murder of his estranged wife, Linda, in 2002.
The Ministry of Justice referred the Parole Board's decision to the High Court, arguing that releasing him would undermine public confidence in the parole system.
The Parole Board initially ruled in April that Razzell could be freed on licence, despite having "serious doubts" about his honesty and acknowledging a "very significant" risk in the context of relationships. These concerns were deemed "not imminent," and the Board believed Razzell was "strongly motivated not to return to custody."
Razzell's release has caused distress among relatives of Linda Razzell, whose body was never found after her disappearance in Swindon.
Her cousin, Julie Westmore, expressed to the court that her family would “not feel safe” if Razzell were released and feared losing hope of finding Linda’s remains.
The Parole Board considered Helen’s Law in their decision, which requires the Board to take into account a convicted killer’s refusal to disclose the location of their victim’s body.
Tristan Jones KC, representing the Ministry of Justice, argued that Razzell has "not been honest or transparent" and that suggested licence conditions "cannot fully address the risks" posed by him.
Razzell, who attended the hearing in London, has always denied responsibility for Linda's murder, and his barrister Matthew Stanbury stated there is no sufficiently compelling reason to overturn the Parole Board's decision.