• Martin Suter killed his wife, Ann Blackwood, at their son’s grave on the 20th anniversary of the boy’s death.
• Suter, a former Green Party council candidate, pleaded guilty 10 months later after a court lifted a reporting ban.
• The murder stunned the peaceful town of Lee-on-the-Solent, where the couple were well-known community members.

A quiet English cemetery turned into the scene of a chilling tragedy when a former council candidate brutally killed his wife beside their son’s grave—on the very day that marked 20 years since the boy’s death. The case, shrouded in silence for months due to a court-imposed reporting ban, has now come to light, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit seaside town of Lee-on-the-Solent.

A Day of Grief Turns Deadly

On July 24, 2023, what should have been a solemn visit to the cemetery ended in bloodshed. Martin Suter, 68, attacked his wife, 71-year-old Ann Blackwood, at Crofton Cemetery in Stubbington, Hampshire. The couple had come to mourn the 20th anniversary of their son’s passing—an already unbearable moment made infinitely worse by Suter’s unfathomable act.

Emergency services rushed to the scene around 3:45 p.m. after police received a report of an assault. Officers and paramedics found Ann lying by the grave. Despite their efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene. The details surrounding how she died remain under wraps, but the sheer violence of the attack left responders shaken and bystanders horrified.

Witnesses described a disturbing and surreal sight: paramedics battling to save a woman’s life in the middle of a peaceful graveyard, a place that symbolized remembrance, not murder.

“We Are Absolutely Devastated”

Ann Blackwood’s family issued a heartbreaking statement following the news of her death. “Her daughter, brothers, their families, and all her friends are absolutely devastated by the loss,” they said. “Ann was a loving, caring, kind-hearted mother and friend. She was very popular in her community.”

Friends and neighbors painted a picture of a vibrant retiree, someone who embraced life through sport, nature, and music. She played tennis, went sailing, cycled around the coastal town, and filled her days with joy and activity. Her sudden and violent death has left the community struggling to comprehend how something so dark could touch someone so full of life.

The town, known for its calm atmosphere and scenic sea views, now finds itself in the harsh spotlight of national attention. “You never expect something so horrific to happen so close to home,” said one local woman in her 60s. “Especially not here, in a place where everyone knows everyone.”

Behind the Smile: A Troubling Past Emerges

Martin Suter wasn’t just a grieving father or the husband of a murdered woman—he was also a former Green Party council candidate. Locals knew him as an active member of St Faith’s Church, often seen at community events and local meetings. Just a year before the murder, in 2022, he ran for a seat in the local election, though he received only 331 votes, finishing fourth.

But while his public image suggested a concerned citizen and churchgoer, a darker past simmered beneath the surface.

Separate from the murder case, Suter had recently been on trial for multiple charges of indecent assault involving a girl under 14. Out of the six charges, he pleaded guilty to one. The court found him not guilty of the remaining five. The disturbing details of this trial weren’t widely known until now, and they’ve added another layer of disgust to an already gruesome crime.

Community members who once considered him an odd but harmless figure are now reeling. “It’s terrifying to think someone like that was walking among us,” said a local man who had voted in the election Suter lost. “He seemed harmless—eccentric maybe, but nothing like this.”

The Murder Confession

Ten months after the attack, Suter pleaded guilty to murdering his wife. The admission came as the reporting ban was lifted, and the public was finally able to grasp the full horror of what happened that day in the cemetery.

No motive has been officially revealed, though some speculate that years of grief and emotional instability might have contributed. Still, nothing could justify what he did—least of all on the anniversary of the loss that had already shattered their family two decades earlier.

A Town in Mourning

Lee-on-the-Solent, usually bustling with beachgoers and cyclists during the summer months, has been left stunned by the tragic events. The case has become a painful reminder that darkness can sometimes wear the mask of normalcy.

At local cafes and along the coastal promenade, conversations about Ann’s death dominate. The fact that it happened at the gravesite of their child adds an unbearable layer of sorrow. Many residents are now calling for more mental health support in the community and stricter vetting of candidates for public office.

A small vigil was held near the cemetery just days after the news broke. Neighbors gathered with flowers and candles, silently paying their respects. The cemetery, once a peaceful resting place, now bears the weight of two tragedies.

What Comes Next

Suter now awaits sentencing, though few believe any punishment could match the emotional devastation he caused. Legal experts suggest he could face life in prison, given the brutality and the symbolic cruelty of the act.

As for the Blackwood family, they continue to mourn two lives lost—first their son, then Ann. The trauma will no doubt leave scars for years to come.

This haunting crime has shattered a family, devastated a town, and raised chilling questions about what evil can hide behind a familiar face. And as Lee-on-the-Solent slowly tries to recover from this nightmare, one thing remains certain: it will never feel quite as safe again.