High Court blocks release of killer who refuses to reveal wife's body

The High Court has overturned a Parole Board decision to release Glyn Razzell, the man convicted of murdering his wife, Linda Razzell, in 2002. Razzell, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2003, has consistently refused to disclose the location of his wife's remains.

In April, the Parole Board ruled that Razzell's imprisonment was “no longer necessary” to protect the public. However, the Ministry of Justice referred the decision to the High Court, marking the first time the Secretary of State for Justice's power to refer such decisions has been used to overturn a Parole Board ruling.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb quashed the decision, stating she was not persuaded that the risk Razzell poses has diminished enough for offender management to ensure public safety. The judge noted “significant gaps” in Razzell’s understanding of his own risk and remarked that the proposed release plan “relies on trust that has not been earned.”

Linda Razzell, a mother of four, disappeared in Swindon while on her way to work at Swindon College. While Razzell was previously denied parole under Helen's Law—which requires the Parole Board to consider a killer's refusal to disclose a victim's location—the recent High Court ruling ensures he remains in custody.