Yachtsman locked up for no less than 27 years for stabbing his ex-wife 19 occasions with scissors she had taken to trim flowers at their late son’s grave

A yachtsman has been jailed for the ‘wicked’ murder of his ex-wife by their late son’s graveside, using a pair of scissors she had brought to trim memorial flowers. 

Martin Suter, 68, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 27 years for stabbing sailor Ann Blackwood, in an attack which also involved a 12-inch kitchen knife. 

Her grieving relatives today told Suter he had acted with ‘wickedness beyond comprehension’ in ‘pitilessly extinguishing’ the life of the 71-year-old. 

Suter was said to have ‘laid in wait’ for five hours to ambush Ms Blackwood at Crofton Cemetery in Stubbington, Hants, on July 24, 2023 – when he knew she would be visiting the grave of their late son, Christopher, for the anniversary of his birthday. 

Ms Blackwood was stabbed in the back with a kitchen knife Suter had brought from his home, before he ‘finished her off’ by repeatedly slashing her neck with the pair of scissors she had brought with her. 

The attack was so frenzied that Ms Blackwood suffered 19 stab wounds to her neck from the scissors and the kitchen knife blade broke off inside her, it was heard.

After the attack, Suter phoned the police and told them: ‘I have just killed by ex-wife.’ 

He told officers he blaming his ex-wife for the death of his son, whom he said had ‘died by his own hand’ in 2003.

Suter then called his second wife, Diane Suter, to tell her that ‘he had just murdered Ann and that the knife had broken in her’.

Passing sentence today at Portsmouth Crown Court, Judge Michael Bowes KC told Suter he had committed an ‘act of wickedness’ and a ‘dreadful crime’.

Suter pleaded guilty to Ms Blackwood’s murder at an earlier hearing.  

He was also sentenced for a separate matter- the historic indecent assault of a girl under 14 – for which he was given a four month sentence.

John Blackwood, Ann’s brother, earlier told the court in a statement: ‘His wickedness is alien to us and totally beyond our comprehension.

‘Her life was pitilessly extinguished in such a savage way.

‘It is something that our family will never be able to come to terms with. The family hub has been splintered in the most grotesque manner possible.’

In a further statement released following the sentencing, Ms Blackwood’s family said she would be remembered for her ‘beauty, grace, and immeasurable fortitude’.

It said: ‘Our family have been absolutely devastated by the tragic loss of Ann Blackwood.

‘A loving, caring, kind-hearted mother, sister and friend who was a very popular member of her local community, loved and respected by everyone who knew her.

‘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.’

Passing sentence, the judge told Suter: ‘You knew it was likely that she would visit Christopher’s grave on the anniversary of his birthday.

‘You brutally murdered her. You stabbed her 19 times and rapid death would have been inevitable. It was a dreadful crime.

‘You had achieved a purpose which you had determined in advance.

‘No sentence I can pass can compensate Ann Blackwood’s family and friends for their devastating loss.

‘Christopher’s death in 2003 was a tragic loss but it cannot reduce your culpability for the murder of his mother.

‘You brutally murdered Ann Blackwood in the most cruel and agonising way you could.

‘By stabbing her to death on her son’s grave. This is rightly characterised by her family and friends as an act of wickedness.

‘The danger and future risk is covered by the life sentence.

‘There was a significant degree of planning and pre-meditation on your part. Ann Blackwood was particularly vulnerable because of the location of her murder.’

Jodie Mittell KC, defending, said: ‘Suter had admitted that he was guilty of manslaughter. It may be difficult for someone with autism to demonstrate remorse and how it is assessed.’ 

The court previously heard that Suter left his home in Lee-on-the-Solent, Hants, at around 10.20am on July 24 2023.

He drove his burgundy Mazda MX-5 Sports car for approximately 10 minutes before arriving to Crofton Cemetery.

He had arrived to the cemetery armed with a 12-inch kitchen knife and flowers, which he had purchased the previous day.

The date marked the 36th birthday of his and Ms Blackwood’s late son Christopher, who was found hanged in July 2003.

Robert O’Sullivan KC, prosecuting, told the court at the start of a hearing in September that Suter then ‘laid in wait’ for the arrival of Ms Blackwood, who he ‘rightly anticipated’ would visit the grave that day.

The court heard that Ms Blackwood duly arrived by bicycle at around 3.30pm.

While walking to the grave, Suter snuck up behind her and used the kitchen knife to stab her in the back.

The court heard the blade had broken off from the handle, and he then ‘stabbed her in the neck with scissors’.

The prosecutor said these scissors belonged to Ms Blackwood, and she had brought them with her ‘to cut the flowers she had intended to leave on her son’s grave’.

It was heard that she also had orange roses with her.

Some minutes later, Suter called 999 and told the operator ‘I have just murdered someone’ and ‘I have just killed by ex-wife, I have stabbed her to death’.

The court heard Suter told the operator he had ‘used a knife’ and had ‘blamed her for his son’s suicide’.

He told the police: ‘I stabbed her with a kitchen knife and scissors. The knife broke, it’s still inside. The scissors are alongside.’

The police officer told Suter that he sounded ‘very calm’, to which he responded: ‘No, I won’t disturb the gardener.’

Shortly after this phone call with the police, Suter phoned his second wife Mrs Suter ‘and told her that he had just murdered Ann and that the knife had broken in her’.

He told his partner that Ms Blackwood ‘had a pair of scissors and I finished her off with them’.

The police arrived and Suter was seen standing next to Ms Blackwood, who was ‘laying on the ground’.

It is believed that Ms Blackwood was ‘taken by surprise’ and was ‘rapidly overwhelmed by the attack’.

Suter lived in a £800,000 home around a mile from Ms Blackwood in seaside town Lee-on-the-Solent, in a large property overlooking the Solent.

The area is popular with sailing enthusiasts.

Suter was a Green Party member and council election candidate. He was also an active member of the St Faith’s Church in Lee-on-the-Solent.

Suter admitted murder in court in May last year but his case was subjected to reporting restrictions.

In June, his plea was reported for the first time after a judge lifted the restrictions.