THE jury in the trial at which Glyn Razzell stands accused of murdering his estranged wife Linda has been told only one person could have done it.

On the day the prosecution closed its case, Michael Parroy QC rubbished defence claims the Highworth mother of four was alive and well and advised the jury to keep a firm grip on common sense.

The prosecution barrister said suggestions that the 41-year-old Swindon College learning support assistant would walk around without making an effort to alter her appearance and tell people she was from Swindon did not make the slightest bit of sense.

He also told the court it was impossible to survive in today's society without the necessary paper- work. Linda, who vanished after parking her car in Alvescot Road, Old Walcot on March 19 last year has not been seen since and has not made contact with the DSS, DVLA, her bank account or her family since that time.

Her passport and driving licence were later found at her Pentylands Close home.

During day 26 of the trial Mr Parroy asked the jury whether they were meant to take seriously defence claims that Linda was spotted in Weston-super-Mare or enjoying a cup of tea at a cafe in her native Carmarthenshire.

The court heard that Linda was involved in divorce proceedings and had seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Mr Parroy asked what she had to lose and answered by saying: four children and a permanent life in the shadows.

Mr Parroy said: "We have heard about Linda Razzell from her family, his (Razzell's) family and people that only knew her all of them have said the same thing.

"She adored her children, they were the absolute centre of her life and she would never have abandoned them."

Mr Parroy said the notion of suicide was unimaginable and told the court there was no evidence to suggest Linda was suffering from mental health problems during March last year and all that was left was for her to have been killed by someone.

Mr Parroy said the only candidates were those who had access to the silver Renault Laguna Razzell was driving on March 19.

He said according to scientific evidence the blood found inside the car could not have got there any other way save for a dead or dying body being in the boot.

"The key to the case is the key to the Laguna and the man who had that key on March 19 was this defendant," he told the jury.

Mr Parroy said Razzell's claim he was at Lydiard Park the morning of his wife's disappearance was either the perfect alibi or a thumping great lie, but asked the jury why it was he wanted to go to Barbury Castle later that day for another walk on a grey, dank afternoon or fill up the Laguna with £8.21 of fuel prior to meeting his friends who had been on a booze cruise that day.

The court heard that Razzell had joked about bumping Linda off to friends, but dismissed this as a jestful comment. "Perhaps this wacky idea has been put into operation," added Mr Parroy.

He ended his closing speech by suggesting that because no body has been found, Razzell's plan had worked perfectly.

Mr Parroy said it wouldn't have taken long to disable Linda with a blow to the head or stab and bundle her into an unfamiliar car in an alleyway where few people could have seen what was happening.

Mr Parroy said: "We have no explanation at all how that blood got into that car on that day when that man (Razzell) over there has the keys. Mr Razzell planned his wife's death as he plans everything in his life. He carried out his plan and Mrs Razzell is dead. Far from going off for a nice life with Rachel Smith as planned he now faces this charge.

"We would suggest when you look at the totality of the evidence in this case there is only one answer he did it and we would invite you to return a guilty verdict."

Razzell denies murder. The trial continues.

Giles Sheldrick