Yachtsman admits murder of ex‑wife at son's grave during Portsmouth Newton hearing

A Portsmouth Crown Court Newton hearing heard that a yachtsman admitted murdering his ex-wife at the grave of their late son, in what prosecutors described as a premeditated attack carried out at Crofton Cemetery in Stubbington. The defendant, Martin Suter, 68, is contending disputed details of the events that led to the death of Ann Blackwood, 71, during a visit to mark the birthday of their son Christopher, who died by suicide more than two decades ago.

The court was told that the attack unfolded after Suter left his home in Lee-on-the-Solent and drove to Crofton Cemetery. Opening the hearing, prosecutor Robert O’Sullivan KC said Suter departed at about 10:20 a.m. on July 24, 2023, and drove a burgundy Mazda MX-5 for roughly 10 minutes before arriving at the cemetery, where he was said to have armed himself with a 12-inch kitchen knife and flowers he had bought the previous day. Prosecutors alleged that Suter laid in wait for Blackwood, whom he anticipated would visit the grave that day on the anniversary of their son’s death.

Blackwood arrived by bicycle at around 3:30 p.m. and, as she walked toward the grave of their son, Suter stabbed her in the back with the kitchen knife, before using Blackwood’s own scissors to inflict further wounds to her neck. The court was told that Blackwood suffered at least 19 stab wounds to her neck from the scissors. After the attack, Suter phoned 999 with what prosecutors described as a calm but deliberate message: that he had killed his ex-wife and that he had stabbed her to death, while also indicating that he blamed her for their son’s suicide. He then contacted his second wife to tell her that he had just murdered Ann Blackwood, saying she had a pair of scissors and that he finished her off with them.

The police arrived to find Blackwood on the ground beside her grave, and Suter was arrested and taken to a local station. A postmortem confirmed the sequence of the assault, including the number of stab wounds to the neck and the use of both a knife and scissors with “moderate force.” The court heard that Blackwood’s scissors had been used in the murder, and the violence occurred as the couple had gathered at the cemetery on what would have been their son’s 36th birthday.

Suter has admitted murder in principle, but the case has proceeded to a Newton hearing, a form of “trial of issue” used to resolve disputed details in the prosecution and defense case. The hearing seeks to determine two central questions: whether Suter carried the knife with the intention of killing Blackwood, and whether his actions were aimed at murder or the lesser offense of grievous bodily harm. As the hearing commenced, the prosecutor asserted that Suter “laid in wait” for Blackwood and armed himself in preparation for the attack, with the intent to kill.

According to the prosecution, Suter told investigators that he stabbed Blackwood with the kitchen knife and finished her off with the scissors. He also described his actions in a subsequent phone call to police, which is being used to establish the state of mind at the time of the killing. The victim’s family and local acquaintances recalled Blackwood as a “loving, caring, kind-hearted” person who enjoyed an active retirement life that included tennis, sailing, cycling, and music. The court has heard that the incident occurred at a cemetery adjacent to a community of sailing enthusiasts and a home that reflected Suter’s long-standing involvement in the area’s maritime culture.

Suter refused to attend the public portion of the Newton hearing, sending a note in which he argued that a Newton hearing was inappropriate and that he should have a fair trial with a jury. The prosecution and the court noted that the hearing would continue to determine the contested elements of the case, with the judge overseeing the proceedings and counsel for the defense and prosecution presenting their arguments. The court has indicated that the proceedings will address the precise sequence of events at the cemetery, the extent of the force used, and whether the evidence supports a finding of murder beyond reasonable doubt.

The case has connections to broader concerns about violence at domestic and familial levels. Suter’s background, including his residence near the Solent and his public profile as a Green Party member and local church participant, has been noted in discussions surrounding the case. The proceedings also touch on prior legal matters in which Suter faced separate charges regarding historic abuse of a young girl, for which he was convicted of indecent assault. The current Newton hearing, however, is limited to the specifics of the July 24, 2023, incident and whether Suter’s actions constituted murder or grievous bodily harm.

The judge has scheduled further testimony and argument as the Newton hearing progresses. The public is reminded that the case remains ongoing, and the court will determine the facts necessary to resolve the disputed aspects of the prosecution and defense narratives. In the meantime, Blackwood’s family and friends, as well as members of the local community who knew the couple, await the outcome of the proceedings to determine how the events at Crofton Cemetery on what would have Christopher’s birthday are understood in a legal sense.

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