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A mother-of-four was heard screaming ‘What are you going to do, kill me?’ before her estranged husband cut her throat with a craft knife, a court heard today.

Tania Williams, 49, was found by neighbours in a pool of blood outside her home after the alleged attack and was pronounced dead at the scene.

It was said to have happened when she returned home early after allegedly arguing with Raymond Williams, 61, while she was on a night out in Norwich, Norfolk.

Norwich Crown Court was told how the blade of what appeared to be a craft knife was recovered from the area outside her house in Thorpe St Andrew.

Williams, of Norwich, denies murdering his wife and is understood to be claiming that he was not the person who stabbed her.

Prosecutor Charles Myatt told jurors that Mrs Williams had been out alone on the evening of January 17 this year, visiting several bars and clubs and ‘socialising with friends and acquaintances that she bumped into’.

‘Also, out that night in Norwich city centre was her husband Raymond Wiliams - this defendant,' he said.

‘Although they were still married, they had separated the previous year and were in the process of making that separation final.

Tania Williams, 49, was found by neighbours in a pool of blood outside her home in Thorpe St Andrew, near Norwich

‘Mr Williams was living west of the city centre in Dereham Road and Tania remained east of the city centre in Catherine Gardens, a cul-de-sac off Yarmouth Road.

‘There is CCTV from a number of locations, both inside pubs and clubs, and also on the streets of the city centre which show what appears to be Mr Williams spending part of the evening going from bar to bar, we suggest trying to find Tania Williams.

‘He finally caught up with her and it would appear the two of them had a disagreement. It would appear after that, Mrs Wiliams cut her evening short and took a bus home from near the railway station.’

Mr Myatt said she was ‘fairly annoyed' about having her evening curtailed and 'sent a series of texts to people on her way home.’

Mrs Williams was seen walking the short distance home shortly after 11pm, after the bus dropped her off in a nearby road, he added.

'However, before she reached her front door, she was attacked, and the prosecution case is that she was attacked by her husband Raymond Williams,' the prosecutor continued.

‘A neighbour of Mrs Williams heard a woman screaming "What are you going to do, kill me?". A number of other neighbours heard a commotion.

‘By the time they went out, Mr Williams had left the scene. Neighbours saw one person only - Tania Williams - who was lying in the road a few metres from her address.

Her estranged husband, Raymond Williams, 61, denies murdering his wife and is understood to be claiming that he was not the person who stabbed her

Neighbours heard the mother-of-four screaming ‘What are you going to do, kill me?’ shortly before she was found fatally injured, jurors have been told

'She was lying in a pool of blood and it became quickly clear that her throat had been cut with a craft knife.

‘Paramedics and police quickly attended and it quickly became apparent that she had suffered injuries incompatible with life.

'She was pronounced dead at the scene around 20 minutes after a noise was first heard by neighbours.’

Mr Myatt said what appeared to be the blade of a craft knife was found at the scene as a murder inquiry was launched.

Police investigating the case labelled Williams as a suspect early on and he was arrested a few hours later at his home, the court was told.

‘He was taken to a police station where he was interviewed. He exercised his right not to pass comment,' Mr Myatt said.

‘It is anticipated that, in this trial, he will say he was not the person who killed Tania Williams but at that time he was elsewhere in the city.’

The jury was sent home and were told to return to court on Thursday when Mr Myatt is expected to outline the prosecution evidence in ‘a detailed opening’.

Mrs Williams had been out alone on the evening of January 17 this year, visiting several bars and clubs in Norwich city centre and ‘socialising with friends and acquaintances that she bumped into’, the court heard

The prosecution claims the defendant was caught on CCTV 'going from bar to bar' in an attempt to 'find Tania Williams'

Judge Anthony Bate warned jurors not to speak to anyone about the case.

The daughter of Mrs Williams released a statement through Norfolk Police after her death paying tribute to her and describing her as a committed Christian.

She said: ‘My mother Tania was a woman of great faith, believing in Christ. She was also a woman who was passionate about her four children.

‘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.

‘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.’

The trial continues.