Life term for ‘senseless’ murder of mother
THE violent murder of a Stratford woman by her own son has been described as ‘‘senseless and inexplicable’’ by the sentencing judge.
David Blake, 47, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the High Court at New Plymouth yesterday and will have to serve 16 years before becoming eligible for parole. A first strike warning was issued at an earlier appearance.
He pleaded guilty to the murder of his 71-year-old mother Gwen Blake during a court appearance in April.
Justice Rebecca Ellis addressed the victim’s family in the public gallery and said the statements she had read about Gwen Blake and her contributions to the community had been ‘‘very moving’’.
‘‘It is completely senseless and inexplicable what happened to her,’’ Ellis said. Crown prosecutor Cherie Clarke described the murder as ‘‘cruel’’, saying a high level of violence had been meted out by David Blake during the assault.
But defence lawyer Paul Keegan argued his client was remorseful for what he had done.
‘‘As a result, he’s lost just about everything he had to lose,’’ he said.
According to the summary of facts, David Blake had been living in a caravan at the back of his mother’s Regan St home in the months leading up to her death.
On January 30, he had been drinking with friends and after he returned to Gwen Blake’s home, an argument between the two began before the defendant became violent.
It was established Gwen Blake suffered blunt force injuries to her head and three stab wounds to her face and neck.
A scene examination found blood throughout the house, including in the lounge where Gwen was found by police. Bloodstains were also found on David Blake’s clothing.
At the beginning of the hearing, Ellis told the court that due to concerns raised by Corrections and police staff about David Blake’s potential to become disruptive and potentially violent during the hearing, he would only be present for parts of it.
As a result, security was tight in the courtroom as two guards flanked David Blake in the dock with three police officers stationed either side of the defendant.