Man jailed for life for ‘wicked’ murder of ex-wife at son’s graveside
A man described as a skilled sailor has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 27 years for the “vicious” murder of his ex-wife at her son’s grave.
Martin Suter, 68, waited five hours before fatally stabbing Ann Blackwood, 71, at Crofton Cemetery in Stubbington, Hampshire, on July 24, 2023.
The attack took place around the time of their son Christopher’s 36th birthday.
Suter, of Lee-on-the-Solent, admitted the murder. He was also sentenced to prison for indecent assault on a girl under 14, a charge to which he pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court in May 2023.
The 68-year-old man, who wore a beige suit and striped tie at the hearing, was also sentenced to prison for indecent assault on a girl under 14, to which he pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court in May 2023.
Sentencing Suter, who showed no emotion, at Portsmouth Crown Court, Judge Michael Bowes KC said: “No sentence I can impose can compensate for the devastating loss of Ann Blackwood’s family and friends.”
He told Suter: “Christopher’s death was a tragic loss but it does nothing to diminish your culpability in the murder of his mother.”
He added: “You brutally murdered Ann Blackwood in the most brutal and painful way you can by stabbing her to death on her son’s grave, and this is rightly described by her family and friends as an act of evil.”
Suter was sentenced to 27 years and 109 days in prison for murder and an additional 121 days for indecent assault.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Ms Blackwood’s brother, John Blackwood, said: “The fact that such evil could exist and be inflicted by one human being on another is alien to us and completely beyond our understanding.
“He was a kind, non-aggressive, well-adjusted and friendly person who had many friends. His shocking and brutal death deeply affected many people, his immediate family and wider circle of friends.”
Prosecutor Robert O’Sullivan KC said there had been a “significant degree of planning” and said: “The defendant armed himself with a large kitchen knife taken from her home address and, lying in wait to attack Ann Blackwood that morning, took her to the cemetery, rightly anticipating that she would visit her son’s grave that day.”
He said Suter attacked Mrs Blackwood, who arrived on a bicycle and approached their son’s grave.
Mr O’Sullivan said the coroner ruled Christopher’s death in 2003 was accidental and the couple, who had two children and previously lived in Stockport, Manchester, divorced in 2004.
Mr O’Sullivan said: “The defendant stabbed her in the back with a kitchen knife and, when the knife broke, stabbed her repeatedly in the neck with the scissors she had brought with her to cut the flowers she planned to put on her son’s grave.”
The court heard Suter stabbed Miss Blackwood 19 times in the neck and shoulder with scissors.
He said Suter called 999 at 3.39pm and told police: “I just killed someone, I killed my ex-wife, I just stabbed her to death.”
Mr O’Sullivan said the interviewer described Suter as “calm” during the interview, adding: “He said his life had been ruined by the deceased and blamed her for his son’s suicide.”
The prosecutor said Suter then rang his second wife, Diane, and told her he had killed Miss Blackwood and, referring to his indecent assault conviction, said: “I know I’m going to prison, I might as well do it.”
He added that Suter told worried citizens passing by, “It’s been 40 years, I couldn’t take it anymore.”
He added that Suter was diagnosed with autism and depression.
Mr O’Sullivan also said: “The defendant has expressed no genuine remorse; he still denies committing the crime of murder.”
He added: “Ann Blackwood was particularly vulnerable because of her age, the fact that she was attacked by surprise and from behind, and that she was attacked in a peaceful place where she expected to be safe.”
Jodie Mittell KC, defending, said: “It can be difficult for a person diagnosed with autism to demonstrate or assess their remorse.”
The family of church-going Miss Blackwood, who lived in Lee-on-the-Solent, said in a statement released after her death through Hampshire Constabulary: “Her daughter, her brothers, their families and all their friends are absolutely devastated by the loss of Ann Blackwood.
“A loving, caring, kind-hearted mother and friend who was very popular in the local community, she enjoyed her retirement with an active lifestyle including tennis, sailing, cycling and music.”
