Darren Mark Wake sentenced to 26 years jail for Christmas Day stabbing murder of estranged wife Rachel Wake

The man who stabbed his estranged wife to death on Christmas Day in 2021, will spend a long time in prison paying for the vicious murder. The victim’s family speaks out. >>>

Murder victim Rachel Wake. Picture: Facebook

The grieving family of murdered Hobart midwife Rachel Wake say they will never forgive the man who stole away a beloved mother, daughter, sister, and partner.

On Wednesday in the Supreme Court, Ms Wake’s former husband Darren Mark Wake was sentenced to 26 years’ jail for stabbing to death the mother of two in her home on Christmas Day, 2021.

Speaking outside court after Justice Helen Wood ordered Wake to serve at least 17 years before being eligible for parole, Ms Wake’s mother Tibby Sierink said no sentence could ever be long enough.

“It will not bring our beautiful daughter back into our family – she has gone forever,” Ms Sierink said.

“I will hate him forever for what he has done.

“Robbing our whole family of loving care, especially her grandchildren, he does not have the right to enjoy freedom ever again.

The family of murder victim Rachel Wake address the media outside the Tasmanian Supreme Court following sentencing of Darren Mark Wake. Picture: Elise Kaine

“The knowledge that I will have to live the rest of my days without her breaks my heart.”

Ms Sierink said that while Rachel’s family would never get over her sudden and violent loss, her death may help highlight the epidemic of domestic violence against women in Australia.

The distraught mother said Rachel’s successful efforts to move on with her life following a marital breakdown has been cut short by a selfish act of jealousy.

“In two days’ time I will be 81 years old, and thinking of the good days we could have spent together is agony,” Ms Sierink said.

“Rachel was so full of colour, so full of sparkle. Now that is all gone.”

Rachel Wake. Picture: supplied by the family

Justice Wood said an autopsy report revealed Ms Wake suffered 24 separate knife injuries in the attack, including stab wounds to her chest wall, lung, shoulder, and abdomen.

Justice Wood ] said Darren Wake had launched a determined attack with the specific intention of killing his ex-wife, and had not been deterred by the presence of his daughter or son.

“Your moral culpability might be regarded as very high,” she told the defendant.

Matthew Coward said his sister’s death had left him feeling sad, empty, and angry, and described hearing audio of her death in a previous court hearing as the worst experience of his life.

Mr Coward said that although intimate partner homicide was rife in Australia he never thought it could happen to his own family.

“But the truth is, this could happen to any family,” he said.

“Rachel’s death has affected and changed our family forever.

“We take the grief to work, we take the grief home, we take the grief to bed.”

Romany Wake 21 daughter of Rachel Wake who was murdered on Christmas Day 2021. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Ms Wake’s daughter Romany, who has become a leading voice against domestic violence since witnessing the murder of her mother, paid tribute to the ongoing encouragement of the public since the tragedy.

Ms Wake encouraged all Tasmanians to join with the family on Parliament Lawns on Saturday at 1.30pm for a rally against domestic violence.

“I just wanted to thank everyone for the support that they’ve shown over the past two and a half years,” she said.

“It’s been amazing and we’re finally starting to get some justice for my Mum.”

‘Shocking breach of trust’

Murderer Darren Mark Wake will be an old man if he ever walks out of Risdon Prison.

On Wednesday, more than two years after perpetrating the unprovoked Christmas Day slaying of his ex-wife Rachel, and following numerous case adjournments, the 62-year-old finally faced justice in front of a packed public gallery in Hobart’s Supreme Court.

In sentencing Wake to 26 years in prison with a non-parole period of 17 years, Justice Helen Wood described the former registered nurse’s actions as “a shocking breach of trust”, and a serious example of the crime of murder.

Justice Wood said Wake’s ongoing bitterness about child access arrangements following his marriage breakdown to Ms Wake had motivated the killing of a kind, thoughtful, and sensitive person who made an important community contribution through her role as a midwife.

Justice Wood said that Wake had arrived at his ex-wife’s Mornington home on Christmas Day in 2021, demanding to see their son.

When told by Ms Wake that his son did not want to see him, Wake produced a knife he had bought just weeks earlier and began his deadly attack.

“You gave her no warning of your violent intentions and she had no chance to flee or protect herself,” Justice Wood told the defendant.

“She tried to ward off your attack but you persisted until you had stabbed her 17 times.

“Ms Wake did nothing to provoke the attack.”

Justice Wood backdated Wake’s sentence to the day he was taken into custody on 25 December, 2021, meaning he will be 86 years old when his head sentence expires.

Earlier: A Hobart man who stabbed his estranged wife to death on Christmas Day three years ago has been sentenced to 26 years in prison with a non-parole period of 17 years in the Supreme Court.

Darren Mark Wake, 62, had pleaded guilty to murdering Rachel Wake at her Mornington home on December 25, 2021.

His sentence was backdated to the day of the murder.

“Rot in hell you bastard”, was yelled from the packed public gallery as he was led away.

Wake had turned up at her door armed with a flick knife he had bought from eBay, after their son had not arrived at his home to open Christmas presents earlier that morning.

Hobart man Darren Mark Wake has pleaded guilty to the stabbing murder of Rachel Wake, 52, on Christmas Day 2021.

He admitted to repeatedly stabbing Ms Wake, who died with 17 stab wounds and her left jugular vein and both lungs pierced.

The death of Ms Wake, the mother of two teenage children, shook the Hobart community.

Wake did not enter any plea until 10 months after the attack, then pleaded not guilty in October 2022, flagging his intentions to go to trial.

He ultimately pleaded guilty in December last year.

Wake has been in custody since the day of the attack, and on Wednesday was ordered to serve at least 17 years in jail by Justice Helen Wood.

More to come …