A man who stabbed his ex-wife to death should be shown a “degree of leniency” in sentencing partly because of his previously clean criminal record and remorse, his lawyer says.
Darren Mark Wake is set to be sentenced in June after pleading guilty to murdering 52-year-old midwife Rachel Wake at her Hobart home on Christmas Day, 2021.
The pair, who had two children together, were married in 2001 but separated in mid-2011.
Wake took a flick knife he purchased online to the house after telling Ms Wake he wanted to deliver a present.
When he reached the front door, she told Wake their son didn’t want to see him and that he shouldn’t come any further.
Wake pulled the knife from his pocket and stabbed her 17 times, including to the neck.
She was rushed to hospital but died shortly afterwards.
Wake’s lawyer Fabiano Cangelosi told the Supreme Court of Tasmania his client had no criminal history bar three traffic infringements and lived a normal life until the crime.
Cangelosi said Wake, who was a nurse, was deeply remorseful and immediately called emergency services and gave Ms Wake medical attention after stabbing her.
Cangelosi said Wake, who has been in jail since the murder, understood he would spend many years in prison.
“(He) cannot go back in time to change what happened but has committed to improve things for others,” Cangelosi told the court on Wednesday.
“While (this is) a terrible, grave crime (and) he knows that, this is a case where there still is the opportunity to exercise a degree of leniency.
“And to allow for a person to attempt, in small ways, to make amends for what he has done.”
The court was told Wake had given “significant assistance” in four serious matters – which weren’t detailed in open court.
Cangelosi said it was fair Wake served the shortest possible non-parole period because of his prior good conduct, remorse and cooperation.
Wake was charged with murder on December 26, 2021 and pleaded not guilty in October 2022 before changing his plea in December 2023.
Director of public prosecutions Daryl Coates SC said it wasn’t just a question of Wake’s good record or rehabilitation, but the minimum time he was required to serve for justice.
“He also tried to downplay the reason why he went there with the knife saying it was a present for his daughter,” Coates said.
“The fact was he took the knife contemplating he may have had to use it if he wasn’t given access to his son.”
In February, Ms Wake’s mother told the court her only daughter was smart, funny, loyal and a “ray of sunshine” with deep love for her family.
She said her daughter had been happy with a new partner and new life.
Ms Wake’s daughter Romany, who was in a car outside the house during the stabbing, said she has struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder, self-harm and survivor’s guilt.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Crisis support is available from Lifeline on 13 11 14.
