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The Parole Board reversed the decision to release him on licence at the High Court

A man who murdered his estranged wife is to remain in prison after the decision to release him is overturned.

Glyn Razzell murdered his estranged wife Linda Razzell in 2002.

The Parole Board reversed the decision to release him on licence at the High Court.

Razzell was jailed for life with a minimum of almost 16 years in 2003 for the murder of Mrs Razzell.

She had disappeared on her way to work at Swindon College, Wiltshire, during their divorce proceedings.

The Parole Board ruled Razzell could be released on licence in April, but the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) referred the decision to the High Court.

At a hearing earlier this week, barristers for the MoJ said the Parole Board had failed to assess Razzell’s risk properly.

They therefore ruled that the decision to free him should be reversed.

Mrs Razzell’s relatives and loved ones also urged the court to block the release.

Her cousin Julie Westmore said the family "will not feel safe" and expressed fear that "all hope of ever finding Linda’s remains will be lost" if the killer is freed.

Razzell, who attended the hearing in London, opposed the move.

His barrister, Matthew Stanbury, previously told the court in written submissions: “There is no, or no sufficiently cogent, basis for departing from the panel’s decision.”

In today's ruling, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb quashed the Parole Board’s decision.

She was “not satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that Glyn Razzell be confined".

She said: "I am not persuaded that the risk has diminished to such a level that offender management is capable of keeping the public safe if the defendant is released."

Razzell has always denied being responsible for the killing.