Darren Mark Wakes lodges appeal against jail sentence after brutal Christmas Day murder of ex-wife

A Hobart man who murdered his ex-wife in a Christmas Day stabbing has appealed the length of his jail sentence, describing it as “manifestly excessive”.

Rachel Wake, who was murdered on Christmas Day 2021. Picture: Supplied by the family

A man who murdered his ex-wife in a Christmas Day stabbing has appealed the length of his jail sentence, describing it as “manifestly excessive”.

Darren Mark Wake, 62, was last week sentenced to a 26 years’ jail after pleading guilty to murdering Rachel Wake in her Mornington home on December 25, 2021.

He is currently eligible to apply for parole after serving 17 years, in the year 2038.

Ms Wake, a 52-year-old midwife, died with 17 stab wounds, plus another seven knife wounds from the frenzied attack, with her left jugular vein and both lungs pierced.

In an appeal lodged with the Supreme Court of Tasmania, Wake has argued his jail term was manifestly excessive.

Darren Mark Wake.

In a Facebook post on a page made for her mother, Rachel’s Voice, daughter Romany Wake noted Wake’s appeal and said “I just wanted this to be over”.

The matter took several years to proceed through the Hobart court system, with Wake not entering any plea at all until 10 months after the murder.

He then pleaded not guilty in October 2022, flagging his intentions to take the matter to trial.

He ultimately did plead guilty in December last year, two years after his vicious crime, admitting to repeatedly stabbing Ms Wake with a flick knife he’d bought off eBay, leaving her unconscious and covered with blood.

After his sentence was handed down in court last week, Ms Wake’s mother Tibby Sierink said no sentence could ever be long enough.

“I will hate him forever for what he has done,” she said.

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