RAZZELL VERDICT: Trial took its toll on everyone involved

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Monday 17th Nov 2003.

Evening Advertiser reporter Giles Sheldrick was in court throughout the 31-day trial. Here, he gives his impressions of the case.The culmination of an intense and gripping trial took its toll on the scores of people involved when Razzell was finally found guilty of murdering his wife in a cold-blooded attack.

For Linda's family the emotion was understandable. But to see police officers involved in Operation Docker openly weeping outside the courtroom was a truly moving experience.

At the heart of this trial has been the fact that four young children are without a devoted and loving mother. They now have to live with the knowledge their father murdered her. Listening to 31 days of evidence as a journalist is one thing, but to relive every minute aspect of so many private details in a packed courtroom is quite another and it could not have been easy for Linda's family.

Every day for five weeks, unwavering in their support, Linda's brothers, Graham and Neil Davies, her cousins, Julie Westmore and Beverley Lewis, boyfriend Greg Worrall and other family friends would make the journey to Bristol hoping for the saga to draw to a close.

What touched me most, however, was the manner in which the family conducted themselves. Even throughout the most unsavoury pieces of evidence, and especially when they verdict was delivered shortly after 3.30pm on Friday they remained completely dignified.

At the end of trial Mrs Westmore and Mrs Lewis made a point of coming over and thanking me for the Evening Advertiser's sensitive coverage of the trial.

This speaks volumes about the kind of family they are and if there is one small crumb of comfort Linda's four children can take from this unimaginable saga it is that two remarkably genuine and loving women are caring for them.

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