Matricide - David Blake sentenced

File photo. Photo: Glenn Taylor

The murder of Stratford woman Gwen Blake was described as being brutal, callous and inexplicable by the sentencing judge, Justice Rebecca Ellis.
David Blake, the victim's son, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the High Court at New Plymouth on Friday and was told he will have to serve 16 years before he is eligible for parole.
Blake had pleaded guilty to the murder of Gwen Blake, 71, at an earlier court appearance in April this year.
At the beginning of Friday's hearing, Justice Ellis told the court that concerns had been raised regarding the potential of David Blake to become disruptive during the hearing, and potentially violent towards members of his family or those guarding him. As a result, he would only be present for parts of the hearing. When Blake was in the courtroom, security was high with guards by him in the dock and several police officers on either side of him.
Blake was removed from the court while his daughter Harmony read her victim impact statement, followed by her cousin, Alexander.
Harmony Blake told the court that her grandmother's death had hurt her physically and emotionally. "I am not the same person I was before grandma was killed."
Alexander Blake said his grandmother had been stolen from him for no reason and he struggled to comprehend how one human being could do this to another, "especially one who has given birth to him". He told the court that his grandmother was a marriage celebrant, and he had hoped that one day she would officiate at his own wedding.
Defence lawyer Paul Keegan said his client was remorseful of his actions and "the defendant has killed his mother, as a result, he has lost just about all that he can lose".
Crown prosecutor Cherie Clarke said the murder was "committed with cruelty and callousness of a high degree," with a high level of violence demonstrated by David Blake during the assault.
According to the summary of facts, David Blake was living in a caravan at the back of his mother's property on Regan Street in the time leading up to her death.
On January 30, he was out drinking with friends during the afternoon. At some point in the evening he returned home and entered Gwen's house. He argued with her, and became violent.
It was established the victim suffered injuries to her head as well as stab wounds to her neck and face. The victim's nose was broken during the attack and her arms and hands were also bruised.
Blake then went to a neighbour's house telling them "I think I've f***d up. I think I've killed my Mum." At this point the police were called.
Justice Ellis told the gallery that hearing and reading he victim impact reports had given her a strong sense of who Gwen was. "A hugely loved and loving member of your family and a much valued and valuable member of the wider Taranaki community."
Speaking outside court, one of Gwen's grandchildren, Samantha Gifford, said the sentence was "good enough". "It is what it is, we can't expect more than that," said Alexander Blake. Samantha described Gwen as being "just a beautiful person" with other family members nodding in agreement.