Mother-of-four is known as as lady who died after being stabbed outdoors her residence on Saturday evening
A ‘bubbly’ mother-of-four has been named as the woman who was stabbed to death outside her home on Saturday night.
Neighbours battled to save Tania Williams’ life after she was knifed in the neck on her doorstep in Catherine Gardens, Thorpe St Andrew near Norwich, Norfolk.
They were unable to revive Ms Williams, aged in her 40s, after hearing screams and discovering the bloody scene in the cul-de-sac she lived in for 10 years.
One neighbour said: ‘I came out and heard my neighbour say call 999. I was standing on the phone with 999 and I was quite shaky.
‘They told me to do CPR on her, but my neighbour said she was far gone by then. We knew it was Tania because of her bright blue hair.
‘I was on the phone with the emergency services until the police got here at about 11.48pm.
‘It’s a shock to my system – you never would have thought it would have happened on your doorstep.’
A man aged in his 60s, believed to be known to Ms Williams, was arrested on suspicion of her murder early on Sunday morning in Dereham Road, Norwich. He is still in police custody where he is being questioned.
Neighbours tried to save Tania Williams’ life after she was stabbed in the neck outside her home in Norwich last Saturday
Ms Williams had lived on Catherine Gardens (pictured) for the last ten years
Police have been given an extra 30 hours to question the suspect.
Ms Williams had slash wounds in her neck, witnesses said.
Another neighbour, who wanted to be named only as Mrs Drake, described her as a ‘bubbly person’.
She said: ‘She was so lovely. I can’t believe it’s happened. It doesn’t feel real.’
Floral tributes have been laid outside her house.
Ms Williams was active in the community, calling for dog waste bins to be put up in the streets around her home in February last year.
She told the Eastern Daily Press at the time: ‘I walk my son to school every day and there are no red dog bins.
‘It means that there’s either dog poo on the pavement, or it’s overflowing the little green bins, which is frankly disgusting.
‘I sometimes get the bus and the bin is surrounded by faeces – it’s grim. I saw five different piles of mess along the road the other day and it’s really starting to impact the overall look of, what is generally, a nice area. We need more dog bins to keep it clean.’
A man believed to be known to Ms Williams was arrested the day after she was killed
Norfolk Police said: ‘Enquiries continue into the circumstances around the death of a woman in Thorpe St Andrew on Saturday 17 January.
‘A man in his 60s remains in police custody at Wymondham Police Investigation Centre for questioning after being arrested in Dereham Road during the early hours of Sunday 18 January on suspicion of murder.
‘Officers were called to Catherine Gardens just before 11.45pm on Saturday to reports a woman, in her 40s, was injured in the street. She was sadly declared dead at the scene and a murder investigation was launched.
‘Police cordons remain in place at locations in Catherine Gardens and Yarmouth Road but road closures on Dereham Road and Yarmouth Road, between the Pound Lane and School Avenue junctions, have been lifted.’
Det Supt Stacey Murray, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘We are in the early stages of this investigation working to establish the sequence of events which led to the woman’s death.
‘However, we do believe this to be an incident in which both parties were known to each other.
‘We would urge anyone with information that could help the investigation, whether it concerns the incident itself or the events leading up to it, to get in touch.’
Detective Inspector Sam Pontin, from the Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team, leading the enquiry, said: ‘We must remember that at the heart of this investigation is a family who have suffered the devastating loss of a loved one. Our Family Liaison Officers are supporting them through this extremely difficult time.
‘We understand the public’s desire for information and transparency following such a sad and distressing incident, but we would ask people not to speculate.
‘For legal reasons, we do not confirm the names of individuals who have been arrested, unless there are exceptional circumstances. We have not confirmed the identity of the suspect in this case. In line with national policing guidance, we only identify individuals once they have been formally charged.
‘There are also certain details we cannot share publicly while the investigation is ongoing. This is necessary to protect the integrity of the enquiry, ensuring it is thorough and balanced. Everything we do is aimed at giving the investigation the best possible chance of securing justice for the victim and their family.’
Norfolk Police have asked anyone with information to contact them online or to call 101 and quote incident reference 559 of January 17. Alternatively, those with information can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
