<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Publicly-funded </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/law" rel="" target="" title="legal"><span>legal</span></a><span> aid has been ordered to represent a convicted murderer in an appeal despite arguing their services shouldn't be provided. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Darren Mark Wake is serving 26 years behind bars for </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/stabbing" rel="" target="" title="stabbing"><span>stabbing</span></a><span> his ex-wife and mother-of-two, Rachel Wake, to death at her </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/hobart" rel="" target="" title="Hobart"><span>Hobart</span></a><span> home on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/christmas" rel="" target="" title="Christmas"><span>Christmas</span></a><span> Day in 2021. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wake, who was sentenced in 2024 and has a non-parole period of 17 years, has appealed against the length of the sentence, arguing it is manifestly excessive.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-news-two-teens-on-dirt-bike-killed-in-crash-with-bus-in-bossley-park/c892101d-c888-49e9-9184-45f0c056e79a" rel="" target="" title="Memorial set up after teens killed in dirt bike collision with bus in Sydney's west"><strong><span>Memorial set up after teens killed in dirt bike collision with bus in Sydney's west</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He used a folding knife to stab Ms Wake 17 times in a vicious attack motivated by resentment. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The pair's son was inside the house at the time, while daughter Romany had parked outside after driving Wake when he said he wanted to deliver a present.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wake appeared in the Supreme </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/courts" rel="" target="" title="Court"><span>Court</span></a><span> of Tasmania today via video link from prison. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/legal-aid-ordered-for-ex-wife-killers-sentence-appeal/33138423-ce90-459e-8d98-59baa4592bb9" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/tasmania" rel="" target="" title="Tasmania"><span>Tasmania</span></a><span>'s Legal Aid Commission lawyer Rochelle Mainwaring said Wake's application for legal aid had no merit, the matter was not complex, and it wasn't in the interest of justice for them to represent him. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Many applicants appealing their sentence length represented themselves, she told the court. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Justice Michael Daly ordered legal aid to represent Wake, saying he had a right to lawyers. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was important that the appeal court's time was not wasted and that an appeal in such a well-known case was conducted with professionalism and decorum, he said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"How could you realistically, other than for resourcing purposes, be making these submissions?" he asked Mainwaring.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/new-york-laguardia-airport-air-canada-plane-collides-with-vehicle-on-runway/4f2be952-d811-4899-ab5f-bdf59fd6525f" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>Pilots dead, dozens taken to hospital after plane collides with fire truck</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The appeal, which the court was told related to a sentence discount given to Wake, will return to court at a later date. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wake made admissions to police shortly after the crime, but pleaded not guilty before changing his plea to guilty in December 2023. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sentencing judge Justice Helen Wood said Wake was entitled to stand her ground when Wake tried to enter the house against her wishes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wake blamed his former partner for his deteriorating relationship with their son.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He had been told by Wake that his son did not want to see him. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"(Wake) must have realised in those moments (the) purpose was to inflict lethal force," Justice Wood said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She endured that knowing her son was in the house and her daughter nearby." </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Romany, a Tasmanian Young </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/australian-of-the-year" rel="" target="" title="Australian of the Year"><span>Australian of the Year</span></a><span> nominee, has campaigned to improve legislation in relation to domestic violence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au/"><strong><span>National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service</span></strong></a><strong><span> 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 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