Martin Suter has been jailed for life for the murder of his ex-wife Ann Blackwood
A killer who stabbed his ex-wife to death at their son’s graveside has been locked up for life.
Martin Suter ‘lay in wait’ for Ann Blackwood for five hours before stabbing her in the back with a kitchen knife after she cycled to the cemetery.
The 68-year-old then grabbed scissors she had brought with her to cut flowers for their son’s grave and plunged them into her neck.
Keen sailor Suter blamed his ex-wife for their son’s suicide even though his death was ruled to be accidental.
Suter showed no emotion as he was jailed for life, with a minimum term of 27 years and 109 days, after admitting murder.
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Sentencing, Judge Michael Bowes KC said: “No sentence I can pass can compensate Ms Blackwood’s family and friends for their devastating loss.”
He told Suter: “Christopher’s death was a tragic loss but cannot reduce in any way your culpability for the murder of his mother.”
The judge added: “You brutally murdered Ms Blackwood in the most cruel and agonising way you could by stabbing her to death on her son’s grave and this is rightly characterised by her family and friends as an act of wickedness.”
Suter murdered 71-year-old Ms Blackwood at Crofton Cemetery in Stubbington, Hampshire, on July 24, 2023 – which would have been the 36th birthday of their son Christopher.
Prosecutor Robert O’Sullivan KC told Portsmouth Crown Court there was a ‘significant degree of planning’.
He said: “The defendant armed himself with a large kitchen knife from his home address and he took it with him to the cemetery that morning while he laid in wait to attack Ms Blackwood, rightly anticipating she would visit her son’s grave that day.”
Suter attacked Ms Blackwood after she arrived by bicycle and approached the grave of their son, the court heard.
Mr O’Sullivan said: “The defendant stabbed her in the back with a kitchen knife and, the blade having broken off, he repeatedly stabbed her in the neck with a pair of scissors that she had brought with her to cut the flowers she had planned to put on her son’s grave.”
Suter stabbed Ms Blackwood 19 times in the neck and shoulder with the scissors.
At 3.39pm, Suter called 999 and told police: “I have just murdered someone, I have just killed my ex-wife, I have just stabbed her to death.”
The call-handler described Suter as being ‘calm’ during the call.
The prosecutor said: “He said his life had been ruined by the deceased and he blamed her for his son’s suicide.”
Suter then called his second wife Diane and told her he had killed Ms Blackwood.
The killer said to concerned passers-by who offered to help: “It’s been 40 years, I couldn’t take it any more.”
A coroner ruled Christopher’s death in 2003 was accidental. The couple had two children and previously lived in Stockport, Greater Manchester, before divorcing in 2004.
The court heard the killer – who wore a beige suit and striped tie for the hearing – had been diagnosed with autism and depression
Mr O’Sullivan said: “The defendant hasn’t expressed any genuine remorse, he still contests he committed the crime of murder.”
He added: “Ms Blackwood was particularly vulnerable by combination of her age, the fact she was attacked by surprise and from behind, and she was attacked at a peaceful location where she would expect to be safe.”
In a statement read to court, Ms Blackwood’s brother John Blackwood said: “The fact such wickedness can exist and be perpetrated by one human being on another is alien to us and totally beyond our comprehension.
“She was an affable, inoffensive person, easy-going, gregarious, with many friends. Her shocking and brutal death has sorely impacted many people, her immediate family and wider circle of friends.”
Jodie Mittell KC, defending, said: “It may be difficult for someone with the autism diagnoses to demonstrate or for remorse to be assessed.”
The family of church-going Ms Blackwood, who lived in Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, said in a statement: “Her daughter, brothers, their families and all her friends are absolutely devastated by the loss of Ann Blackwood.
“A loving, caring, kind-hearted mother and friend who was very popular in her local community, she was enjoying her retirement with an active lifestyle which included tennis, sailing, cycling and music.”
After the sentencing hearing, the family added: “Ann dedicated her life to helping and inspiring others throughout her successful teaching career.
“She was admired by her pupils and colleagues alike. Ann will be remembered as a person of beauty grace, and immeasurable fortitude.
“As a family we would like to thank everyone who has remained steadfast in the pursuit of justice.”
Suter, of Lee-on-the-Solent, was also sentenced for the indecent assault of a girl aged under 14 to which he had pleaded guilty in May 2023 at Manchester Crown Court.
He was jailed for an additional 121 days for that charge.
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