Yachtsman killed ex-wife at son's grave; court hears new details in Newton hearing

A yachtsman admitted murdering his ex-wife at the grave of their late son in Crofton Cemetery, Stubbington, and the case is being heard at Portsmouth Crown Court in a Newton hearing to determine the defendant's intent. Martin Suter, 68, is the subject of a trial of issue that seeks to resolve disputed details of the attack, including whether he intended to kill and whether he planned to murder or cause grievous bodily harm.

On July 24, 2023, Suter left his home in Lee-on-the-Solent around 10:20 a.m. and drove his burgundy Mazda MX-5 to Crofton Cemetery, arriving after about 10 minutes armed with a 12-inch kitchen knife and flowers he had purchased the previous day. Prosecutors say he laid in wait for Ann Blackwood, 71, his ex-wife, who was expected to visit the grave that day to mark what would have been their son Christopher's 36th birthday.

Ms Blackwood arrived at about 3:30 p.m. by bicycle. As she approached the grave, Suter stabbed her in the back with the kitchen knife, then finished the attack by stabbing her neck with the scissors she had brought to cut flowers for the grave. Postmortem results noted at least 19 stab wounds to her neck from the scissors. After the assault, Suter called 999 and said, I have just murdered my ex-wife and that he blamed her for his son's suicide. He told operators he had used a knife and that he blamed her for his son's suicide, adding that he had finished her off with the scissors.

Shortly after the call, Suter contacted his second wife to say he had killed Ann. He told her that Blackwood had a pair of scissors and he finished her off with them. Police arrived to find Blackwood lying on the ground beside the cemetery grave; Suter was arrested and taken to a police station.

The court heard that the evidence points to a calculated attack, with Suter having arrived armed with both the knife and the flowers and waiting for Blackwood to visit the grave. It was described as a deliberate strike carried out with moderate force, catching Blackwood by surprise and overwhelming her rapidly. Prosecutors say the incident occurred on what would have been the couple’s late son Christopher’s 36th birthday; Christopher, who died aged 15, was found hanged in July 2003.

Suter has admitted murder, but the Newton hearing is being held to resolve two matters: whether he took the knife with the intention of killing Blackwood and whether his intent was to murder or to cause grievous bodily harm. The defense argues the hearing is inappropriate, while the prosecution contends it is necessary to determine the precise circumstances of the crime.

In court, prosecutor Robert O'Sullivan KC opened the hearing by outlining Suter's premeditated plan, stating that he left home with a knife and flowers and waited for Blackwood to visit the grave. The court heard that Blackwood, described by friends as a kindhearted and active retiree who enjoyed tennis, sailing, cycling and music, would have marked her son's birthday at the cemetery that day.

Suter refused to attend the hearing, sending a note saying he believed a Newton hearing was inappropriate and that he had a moral right to a fair trial with a jury without duress. Mr O'Sullivan KC said that Suter stands convicted of the murder of his first wife, Ann Blackwood, who died from stab wounds inflicted at the grave side of their son Christopher at Crofton Cemetery in Stubbington on the 24th of July, on what would have been Christopher's 36th birthday. The prosecution's case is that the defendant armed himself with a large kitchen knife from his home address and took it with him to the cemetery that morning, where he laid in wait to attack Blackwood, rightly anticipating that she would visit her son's grave that day.

Friends have described Blackwood as a loving, caring, kind-hearted mother and friend who was active in the community and enjoyed retirement activities including tennis, sailing, cycling and music. Suter lived in a large property overlooking the Solent and was involved in local politics and church activities; he was a Green Party member and council election candidate. He admitted murder in court in May of the previous year, but reporting restrictions on the case were lifted in June, and he also faced a separate Manchester trial last year for historic abuse of a young girl, for which he was convicted of indecent assault.

The newton hearing continues as Portsmouth Crown Court weighs disputed facts about the sequence and intent of the attack. For confidential support, contact Samaritans at 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.