Newton hearing examines intent in ex-wife's cemetery killing at son's grave

A Newton hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court is examining whether Martin Suter carried a kitchen knife with the intention of killing his ex-wife, Ann Blackwood, during an attack at the graveside of their late son at Crofton Cemetery in Stubbington, Hampshire, on July 24, 2023. The 68-year-old yachtsman from Lee-on-the-Solent has pleaded guilty to murder, but the hearing is focused on two key questions: whether he took the knife with the intention of killing, and whether he intended to murder or to commit grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutors detailed how Suter laid in wait for several hours, driving his burgundy Mazda MX-5 to the cemetery and remaining in his car for much of the morning. He is alleged to have visited the site to place flowers at his late son's grave. Ms Blackwood arrived at the cemetery by bicycle around 3:30 p.m. and, as she walked to the grave, Suter used the kitchen knife to stab her in the back, then, after the blade broke, stabbed her neck with a pair of scissors that she had brought to trim memorial flowers.

The court heard that Suter called 999 moments after the attack to say, 'I have just murdered someone' and later phoned his second wife to tell her he had 'finished her off' with a pair of scissors. Police arrived, and he was taken into custody. A postmortem found at least 19 stab wounds to Blackwood's neck.

In testimony presented at the hearing, psychologist Dr Paul Beckley described Suter as having told him that he had brought sunflowers to the cemetery and did not use the secateurs because they would crush the stalks. Beckley said Suter claimed he had used a knife for the task prior to that day, but not the kitchen knife he took with him. He is said to have arrived at around 10 a.m. and stayed for several hours in his car.

Jodie Mittell KC, representing Suter, told the court there was no additional evidence to call on behalf of the defendant. Prosecutor Robert O'Sullivan KC outlined the timeline and the facts that Suter left his home around 10:29 a.m. and then waited for nearly five hours for Blackwood to arrive. The court heard that Blackwood's visit ended in the brutal attack at the grave.

The case has additional context: Suter previously faced a separate Manchester trial for historic abuse, and was convicted of indecently assaulting a girl under 14. The Newton hearing is to determine whether the murder was the result of intent to kill or to cause grievous bodily harm, and the judge is expected to rule in November.

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