Key facts
- Glyn Razzell was convicted of murdering his wife Linda in 2003.
- Linda Razzell disappeared in 2002 and her body has never been found.
- Razzell has consistently refused to reveal the location of his wife's remains.
- The Parole Board has approved Razzell's release, stating his refusal cannot prevent parole.
- Linda's family is distressed by the decision and the Ministry of Justice is reviewing it.
Glyn Razzell, who was convicted of murdering his estranged wife Linda in 2003, is set to be released from prison despite his ongoing refusal to disclose the location of her body. Linda Razzell disappeared in March 2002 on her way to work in Swindon, and her remains have never been found.
Razzell, now in his late 60s, has maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration. He has applied for parole multiple times, and on his latest attempt, the Parole Board decided he no longer posed a risk to the public. The board acknowledged the "continuing cruelty" of Razzell's refusal to reveal his wife's whereabouts but concluded that this denial could not be a barrier to his release.
During a previous parole hearing in 2023, Razzell had conceded that his wife must be dead, having previously suggested she might still be alive. The reasoning behind the latest decision, revealed in a document, has caused significant distress to Linda's family. Greg Worrall, who was engaged to Linda at the time of her disappearance, stated the ruling would add another level of stress for the family.
The family believes the decision undermines Helen's Law, enacted in 2020, which requires the Parole Board to consider the suffering caused by killers who refuse to disclose victims' burial locations. Helen's Law is named after Helen McCourt, whose killer never revealed her body's location. The Ministry of Justice confirmed it is examining grounds to challenge the Parole Board's decision through a reconsideration mechanism.
Razzell's conviction was based on forensic evidence, including traces of Linda's blood found in the boot of a car he had used. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years. He has always maintained his innocence, suggesting the blood was planted to incriminate him and that Linda may have been involved in its placement.