Missing woman 'unlawfully killed'

Linda Razzell disappeared on her way to work

A mother-of-four whose husband was convicted of killing her despite her body never being found has been declared dead.

An inquest in Swindon was told Linda Razzell, 41, disappeared on her way to work in March 2002.

Mrs Razell's estranged husband Glyn, 45, was jailed for life for her murder in November 2003 after spots of her blood were found in a car he used.

Wiltshire coroner David Masters recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.

Estranged husband

Mr Masters said he had appealed to the Home Office for special permission to hold the inquest - despite the lack of a body - for the sake of Mrs Razzell's four children, now aged eight to 17 and living with relatives in Wales.

Normally in cases where no body has been found, relatives must wait seven years before a person can be officially certified dead.

On 19 March 2002, Mrs Razzell left her home in Highworth, dropped her children at school and her boyfriend Greg Worrell at work before heading to her own job as a learning support assistant at Swindon College.

She parked her red Ford Escort a few streets away in Alvescot Road, and took a short-cut through an alleyway. She was never seen again.

Her mobile phone was later found in the alleyway, and drops of her blood were found in the boot of a car belonging to a friend of her estranged husband.

But despite numerous police appeals, underwater searches by divers and even the offer of a cash reward, no trace of her body has ever been found.

She had four children who were her life - she would not have left them voluntarily Det Ch Insp Paul Granger

Officers who investigated Mrs Razzell's disappearance say they are satisfied that she must be dead.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Granger said: "There was no evidence she had been planning to leave - she had four children, who were her life, she would not have left them voluntarily.

"We have a checklist which we go through when someone goes missing like this - from making sure she had not taken money out of her bank to checking with every health authority to find out if she is in hospital.

"In this case, sadly, there were no signs that Mrs Razzell was alive."

He appealed for anyone with information about what happened to her body to come forward.

Reward offered

"We know who killed her, and why, but we still don't know where her body is - and we need to know that to enable her family to give her a decent burial."

At the trial, Bristol Crown Court had heard Razzell was unwilling to accept the unfavourable financial settlement he was likely to face in divorce proceedings.

Razell and his girlfriend, 25-year-old Rachel Smith, continue to protest his innocence.

Earlier this year, Glyn Razzell's appeal against his conviction failed.

Ms Smith has offered a £5,000 reward for anyone who can prove her theory that Mrs Razzell is still alive.