Father-of-three accused of fatally slicing his estranged spouse’s throat ‘had labored for police forces within the UK and the USA’
A father-of-three accused of fatally cutting his estranged wife’s throat had worked for police forces in the UK and the USA, it has emerged.
Raymond Williams, 61, was arrested in the early hours of January 18, shortly after the mother of his children, Tania, 49, was attacked outside her home. He has since been charged with her murder.
Colleagues have now revealed that Williams, who was born in Dallas, has served with a police force there.
After moving to the UK, he is understood to have worked as a traffic warden for Norwich City Council before becoming a police community support officer for Norfolk Constabulary for around a year.
He was covering the Mile Cross ward in Norwich and Great Yarmouth during his time with the force, colleagues said.
Williams is also said to have worked as a coach for American football team the Dallas Cowboys.
Churchgoer Mrs Williams, who had another child from a different relationship, was found injured outside her home of more than ten years in Thorpe St Andrew just before midnight on January 17.
Neighbours tried to save her but she died at the scene. A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as blood loss from a wound to the neck.
Raymond Williams, 61, who has worked for police forces in the USA and the UK, has been charged with the murder of his estranged wife and mother of his three children, Tania, 49
One local 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.’
Another neighbour described Mrs Williams as a ‘bubbly person’.
She said: ‘She was so lovely. I can’t believe it’s happened. It doesn’t feel real.’
Floral tributes were laid outside her house.
Williams was arrested in the early hours of the following morning at a nearby address where he had been living.
Mrs Williams was found fatally injured outside her home of more than ten years in Thorpe St Andrew, near Norwich in Norfolk, just before midnight on January 17
Neighbours tried to save Tania Williams’ life after she was stabbed in the neck outside her home
He appeared at Norwich Magistrates Court last Tuesday where his case was sent to the crown court.
During a short hearing there on Thursday, he appeared via videolink from HMP Norwich, wearing a grey jumper and trousers, and spoke only to confirm his personal details.
There was no application for bail and he was remanded into custody by Judge Anthony Bate. A two-week trial has been listed for July 20.
Mrs Williams was a prominent member of the congregation at the parish church of Thorpe St Andrew and was also a volunteer at a local Oxfam charity shop.
The church said in a statement: ‘She was a true evangelist of the gospel, encouraging and bringing others to faith with her uniquely colourful, kind and joyful persona.’
Her family, who are being supported by specially trained officers, also issued a statement which described how she was ‘passionate about her four children’.
It added: ‘Tania was undoubtedly beautiful, she was honest but mostly was always giving to others, the list about her bubbly personality truly goes on.
‘Our family wants to continue to honour her and her generous nature even in her passing, which stems from deep rooted faith and kindness.
Ms Williams had lived on Catherine Gardens for the last ten years
Williams was remanded into custody during a hearing on Thursday at Norwich Crown Court. A two-week trial has been listed for July 20
‘Even though her life was cut short; she still lived a full life – leaving many beautiful memories with her children and family behind.
‘Her children want to keep their memories of her alive by honouring her passions and fulfil any dreams she didn’t get to do here on earth.’
Mrs Williams also worked for seven years at City College as an administrator.
CEO and principal Jerry White said: ‘Tania’s helpful and supportive attitude – coupled with a great range of different hair colourings – always made a positive impression on everyone she worked with.’
And she was active in the community. Just last year, she was quoted in a local newspaper calling for dog waste bins to be installed near her home to stop mess being left on pavements and improve the ‘overall look of, what is generally, a nice area’.
PCSOs, who were introduced in 2002 as a back-up to regular officers, provided back-up for forces. They worked in neighbourhoods to tackle anti-social behaviour and prevent crime.
Norfolk Police became the first force to get rid of then in 2018.
A force spokesman said: ‘We can confirm that Raymond Williams was employed as a Police Community Support Officer for approximately nine months, starting in September 2004 before he resigned in June 2005.’
Police have appealed for dashcam footage taken in Yarmouth Road in Thorpe St Andrew between 11pm and 11.45pm on January 17.
