Norwich murder accused was 'lying in wait' for estranged wife
Raymond Williams has gone on trial accused of murdering his estranged wife, Tania Williams.
It was after the 49-year-old mother-of-four was found "lying in a pool of blood" near Catherine Gardens in Thorpe St Andrew on January 17 this year.
Tania Williams (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)
A jury panel of eight men and six women at Norwich Crown Court heard her throat had been "repeatedly slashed".
Charles Myatt, opening the prosecution case, said it was after Williams was "lying in wait" for Ms Williams after "stalking her" while she had been on a night out in Norwich.
Mr Myatt said jurors will hear Williams had previously made threats to slash his wife's throat some years earlier.
Raymond Williams (Image: Social media)
He said Williams, who met his wife in the USA in 1998, initially separated from her in 2012.
But the couple, who have three children, made various attempts to get back together before they ultimately separated in 2025.
In April 2019, Mr Myatt said Williams had turned up "unannounced" at Ms Williams' home and "repeatedly questioned her" about who she had been seeing the night before while she had been out.
Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)
Ms Williams told police he had "grabbed hold of her" and told her "one of us is going to be dead" after which he "ran his finger across his throat" telling her "I'm going to slit your throat".
The court heard Williams had behaved in a "jealous and controlling way" towards Ms Williams.
On January 17 this year, Mr Myatt said Williams had been "consumed by jealousy" when he followed Ms Williams "around the bars of Norwich city centre" in "something of a cat-and-mouse game" as she went on a night out on her own.
Tania Williams (Image: Ian Mackie)
Williams eventually found her and the two of them had an argument.
Ms Williams then caught a bus home and was "clearly annoyed" he had "cut her evening short".
She got on a bus from outside Norwich Railway Station and arrived back in Thorpe St Andrew shortly before 11.30pm.
But by the time Ms Williams got close to her home, Mr Myatt said the defendant was "lying in wait" for his estranged wife.
Tania Williams was attacked near Catherine Gardens, Thorpe St Andrew (Image: Newsquest)
Mr Myatt said Williams - who was "unable to come to terms with her new life as a single woman" - murdered her by "repeatedly slashing her throat and leaving her to bleed to death".
The court was told a neighbour heard Ms Williams scream out "what you going to do... kill me?" prior to the attack.
But by the time people arrived at the scene, Ms Williams was "lying in the road in a pool of blood".
It is understood the weapon was "some form of craft knife" which was found nearby.
Floral tributes to Tania Williams (Image: Newsquest)
Police and paramedics attended the scene, but Ms Williams was "pronounced dead shortly before midnight".
A murder investigation was launched, and Williams was arrested in Dereham Road in the early hours of the next morning and has since been charged with murder.
It is understood Williams, formerly of Dereham Road, Norwich, will be claiming he was not responsible for the killing as he was not present at the time but "elsewhere in the city".
Mr Myatt said the opening of the case would conclude tomorrow (Friday) afternoon.
Williams, who is represented by Stephen Rose KC, has denied murder.
The trial continues.
