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Scott Blackmore
.
Manslaughter of his partner by premeditated stabbing in her Christchurch flat on October 2003
Also has previous convictions for assault using a pick-axe as a weapon, wilful damage, possessing cannabis oil, manufacturing cannabis oil and common assault
Lisa Hiddleston
.
none known
Born 1974
Prison
Sentenced to 11 years in December 2004, a 7 year 4 month non parole period was imposed
Given 6 months periodic detention and 12 months supervision in August 1998
Eligible for parole in mid 2011
Background
From the Christchurch Press, 18 December 2004
Killer Scott Blackmore has been sentenced to 11 years jail for stabbing to death the woman he could not control. Blackmore, 30, strapped a knife to his wrist then broke into the home of his former partner, mother- of-two Lisa Hiddleston, and stabbed her in the back after she begged him not to hurt her.
In the High Court in Christchurch yesterday he had to listen as Justice Chisholm described the killing as callous and premeditated, with Blackmore having the chance to cool off but instead choosing to arm himself with the knife and invade the home where Hiddleston had tried to hide from him. Blackmore also had to listen as poetry Hiddleston had penned in what became the final weeks of her life was read out in court.
"You hurt me for years and you say sorry. You think that makes it OK," Hiddleston wrote. "For years I heard sorry and had to accept it. I never meant to hurt you but I had to. Sorry don't work any more. That's why I had to walk out the door, to make sure the sorries are no more."
Hiddleston's family and friends wept as the poetry was recited as part of the victim impact report of her friend, who had witnessed the start of the fatal attack on October 13 last year. The court was told she remained so traumatised by Hiddleston's death she was admitted to Hillmorton Hospital on several occasions and was unable to read out her report. Prosecutor Phil Shamy read it instead.
"I'll never forget looking up that evening and seeing him (Blackmore) in the kitchen. He had the look of extreme anger in his eyes," Shamy recited. "Lisa looked so scared. She tried to escape out the front door but she couldn't because it was locked. When he grabbed her, she was begging him and saying she'd talk to him.
"The knife was strapped to his arm like he was a psychopathic killer in a horror movie ... I ran and I still feel guilty about leaving to call the police. I feel I abandoned my friend when she was so helpless and frightened of him, but I'm positive if I'd stayed I would have been killed as well." She fled as Hiddleston screamed. She returned and found Hiddleston dying on the floor.
"I felt so helpless. That feeling of helplessness is still with me and I feel I will always feel it. I don't feel safe in my own home and I suffer from nightmares. I suffer constantly from fear and guilt at leaving Lisa when she was so vulnerable. It caused me to have a mental breakdown. "I hate what he did to Lisa and I hate what he has done to me. This man invaded my home, a place I should feel safe and secure, and killed my friend, the woman he was supposed to love and the mother of his children."
His Honour said the jury had acquitted Blackmore of murder on the basis that the six-month custody dispute with Hiddleston over their two daughters had been "slow-burn provocation" that led him to lose control and kill her.
Blackmore was convicted instead of manslaughter, but His Honour assessed the level of provocation as "just about as low that it could have been". He said there had been "ominous signs, in hindsight" after the end of Blackmore's 10-year relationship with Hiddleston in April last year. She claimed he assaulted her, but the charge was later withdrawn.
His Honour accepted that Blackmore subsequently felt frustration and despair over Hiddleston's role in the care of their daughters but said his behaviour also showed an element of trying to control her. In August, Blackmore trashed Hiddleston's car, and on October 5 he attempted suicide. After being released from hospital, Blackmore spoke about Christchurch not being big enough for both of them to live in and told a wrecking-yard worker that he would kill his partner if she tried to get the children.
On the afternoon of October 13, Blackmore bickered by telephone with Hiddleston about custody, and several hours later went to her home, entered with the knife taped to his wrist and killed her.
"I cannot conceive that you would have armed yourself with a knife unless you intended to use it, should the need arise," His Honour said. "Equally importantly, there was a sizeable delay between the telephone calls and your arrival at the house. There was lots of time to cool off. Sadly, you did not.
"All of this revolved around domestic violence and was a home invasion. There was also an element of callousness here. On the evidence, Hiddleston wanted to talk and you said you wanted to talk and in the end she died."
His Honour accepted Blackmore's claim that he felt "guilt, shame, sadness and remorse". Jonathan Eaton, defending, had sought a sentence of five to eight years, but His Honour imposed an 11-year sentence and ordered Blackmore to serve two-thirds before being eligible for parole.
