In December 2020, Maria Ratke went to bed with plans to go Christmas shopping the next day.
Moments later, she was brutally murdered by her 52-year-old husband Heinz Ratke at their home in Katoomba west of Sydney in a suicide attempt.
Details of the tragic and senseless attack were heard in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday when Ratke, 76, was sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder.
Ratke has been told to expect to die in prison.
Judge Richard Weinstein described the murder as ‘bizarre’ and ‘strange’ after Ratke stabbed his wife, 71, as she lay in bed.
Maria Ratke (left) was murdered almost three years ago by her husband Heinz Ratke (right).
“Some of her wounds were defensive, indicating that she was aware that she was being attacked by the person she loved and trusted most,” Judge Weinstein said.
After his arrest, Ratke told police she planned to go Christmas shopping the next day.
But little did she know, they ran into financial trouble after their money ran out.
“He said he came up with the idea of killing his wife to spare her from their financial problems and to avoid embarrassment about him and his shortcomings,” Judge Weinstein said.
“He came up with the idea of committing suicide after killing his wife.”
The court heard it is not known exactly when she was killed – and he stabbed her while she was in bed on December 8 or 9, 2020.
Ratke sent his cousin a Facebook message saying: ‘I hurt her badly and since then I haven’t stopped crying – I just can’t stop crying – I never hurt her, why now? I’m so sorry, this isn’t me!!’
On December 15, the cousin contacted the police.
And when officers arrived at their home, Ratke was in the kitchen, unresponsive but breathing, and his wife was found dead in her bed with the sheets pulled up to her chin and in a pool of blood.
Maria Ratke (photo) was stabbed at least 17 times in the chest by her 52-year-old husband
Maria Ratke, 71, was found dead in the Katoomba home she shared with her husband
When Ratke was released from hospital, he was taken to Katoomba police station where he told police he was facing financial ruin after their savings ran out.
Maria told him of her plans to go Christmas shopping the next day, before he went to the kitchen to get a knife and stab her to death.
An autopsy revealed that she had suffered at least seventeen stab wounds to her chest.
The court heard he tried to kill himself in the following days.
Despite running out of money, Ratke had not applied for government benefits, the court heard.
Ratke had expressed remorse on several occasions, including to a forensic psychiatrist and in a letter read to the court during his sentence hearing earlier this year.
Judge Weinstein also said he was likely suffering from a depressive disorder at the time of the murder.
Heinz Ratke will likely die in prison after being sentenced to 17 years behind bars on Friday
On Friday, Ratke was sentenced to 17 years and three months in prison, including 11 years of non-parole.
he will not be eligible for release until December 2031.
“I also note that, taking into account Mr. Ratke’s age, there is a strong possibility that he will die while in custody,” Judge Weinstein said.
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