A MAN lay in wait to murder his ex-wife with a kitchen knife as she tended to their son’s grave on what would have been his birthday, a court has heard.
Martin Suter, 68, brutally attacked 71-year-old Ann Blackwood at the cemetery in Stubbington, Hampshire.
A man laid in wait to murder his ex-wife with a kitchen knife at a cemetery[/caption]
Ann Blackwood was visiting the grave of their son to mark what would have been his 36th birthday[/caption]
Ann Blackwood was stabbed by a kitchen knife in the back and in the neck with scissors[/caption]
Suter had previously pleaded guilty for murdering his ex-wife at Crofton Cemetery on July 2023.
Ann was stabbed multiple times as she visited their son’s grave to lay flowers on what would have been his 36th birthday, Portsmouth Crown Court heard.
Their son, Christopher had taken his own life in 2003 and the couple divorced the following year.
Suter stabbed her in the back with a kitchen knife before stabbing her in the neck with a pair of scissors.
Ann was treated at the scene by paramedics but sadly couldn’t be saved and was declared dead shortly after.
Robert O’Sullivan KC, prosecuting, said Suter had arrived at the cemetery with flowers of his own in his Mazda MX-5 five hours before his wife at around 10.30am that morning.
His phone’s GPS data revealed he was there in the morning and again at 2.30pm.
He had armed himself with a kitchen knife from his home and laid in wait for Ann who he knew would be there that day.
She arrived that afternoon by bicycle and Suter unleashed the horrific attack as she made her way to their son’s grave.
The court was told that Ann’s lack of defensive injuries indicates she was “taken by surprise or overwhelmed by the attack”.
“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,” O’Sullivan said.
The court was told that after killing his ex-wife, he called 999 and said: “I have just killed my ex-wife, I have just stabbed her to death.”
“He said that his life had been ruined by the deceased and he blamed her for his son’s suicide,” O’Sullivan added.
Suter also proceeded to call his second wife, Diane, and admitted murdering his ex-wife, saying: “I know I’m going to prison, I may as well go for this”, referring to a previous indecent assault conviction.
Suter had previously admitted indecent assault of a girl under 14 in May 2023 and faced five further charges at a trial in July last year but was cleared.
A previous statement from Ann’s family said: “Her daughter, brothers, their families and all her friends are absolutely devastated by the loss.
“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.”
Suter was a Green Party member and council election candidate.
The killer was also an active member of the St Faith’s Church in Lee-on-the-Solent where he lived.
He remains in custody and his sentencing has been listed for November 21 with Judge Michael Bowes due to give his ruling on November 7.
Christopher Suter died in 2003 by suicide[/caption]
