Martin Suter sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 28 years at Portsmouth Crown Court for murdering his ex-wife Ann Blackwood at Crofton cemetery in Fareham in July 2023.​
The 68-year-old from Portsmouth Road in Lee-On-The-Solent appeared for sentencing on Friday 21 November after previously admitting to the murder of 71-year-old Ann Blackwood at the cemetery on Monday 24 July 2023.​
Police received a 999 call from Suter at 15:47pm on that day, during which he confessed to stabbing someone to death. He identified his victim as his former wife Ann Blackwood and stated his motive concerned the non-suspicious accidental death of a family member years earlier. Both individuals were at Crofton cemetery on Lychgate Green when the incident occurred.​
Officers attended immediately and, despite efforts from police and South Central Ambulance Service paramedics, Ann Blackwood was pronounced dead at the scene. Martin Suter sentenced himself to custody following his arrest.​
After being charged with murder, Suter initially denied the offence before changing his plea to guilty three days into his trial on 28 May 2024. His sentencing was postponed pending the conclusion of separate proceedings at Bolton Crown Court, where a jury acquitted him of certain sexual offence charges, though he admitted one count of indecent assault.​
Martin Suter sentenced following his failed attempt to withdraw his guilty plea for Ann Blackwood’s murder, with the application being refused. At a Newton Hearing on Friday 7 November, HHJ Bowes dismissed Suter’s claim that he had brought a knife to the cemetery to cut flowers and established the minimum starting point for his sentence at 25 years.​
Portsmouth Crown Court in case number 44PC0595323/ 06JJ0019121 handed down a life sentence with a minimum term of 28 years, plus an additional four months to run consecutively for the indecent assault.​
Detective Inspector Martin Longyear welcomed the outcome, stating: “I welcome today’s sentence that underlines the seriousness of Suter’s offending and recognises his attempts to delay the legal proceedings. Our detailed investigation ensured the strength of the evidence against Suter that has brought us to this result.​
“This case has understandably caused significant distress to Ann’s family and I hope that today’s sentence helps them to move forward safe in the knowledge that Suter will likely spend the rest of his life in prison. We understand the impact of crimes like this to the wider community, and we are committed to bringing offenders like Suter to justice”.​
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Ann Blackwood’s family issued a statement following Martin Suter sentenced: “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”.​
