Tragic reason man murdered beloved wife

Heinz Ratke murdered wife of 52 years, Maria Ratke, inside their Katoomba home in December 2020 in an attempted murder suicide.

Details of the tragic and senseless attack were on Friday morning heard in the NSW Supreme Court as Ratke, 76, was sentenced to 17 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to murder.

Justice Richard Weinstein described her killing as “bizarre” and “strange” after Ratke stabbed his wife, 71, as she lay in bed.

“Some of her wounds were defensive, which indicates that she was aware of being attacked by the person she loved and trusted most,” Justice Weinstein said.

Following his arrest, Ratke told police that she had planned to go Christmas shopping the following day.

But she did not know they were facing financial difficulties after their money had run out.

“He said that he came up with the idea to kill his wife to spare her from their financial problems and to avoid being embarrassed by him and his failings,” Justice Weinstein said.

“He formed the idea to kill himself after he killed his wife.”

The court heard it’s not known exactly when she was killed – and he stabbed her as she lay in bed on either December 8 or December 9 2020.

Ratke sent his cousin a Facebook message saying “I have hurt her badly and since then I have not stopped crying – I just cannot stop crying – I have never hurt her why now?? I am so very very sorry I am – this is not me!!”

On December 15, the cousin contacted 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.

When Ratke was released from hospital, he was taken to Katoomba Police station where he told police that he was facing financial ruin after their savings had run 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 stabbed her to death.

An autopsy revealed she had suffered at least 17 stab wounds to her chest.

The court heard that over the next several days he attempted to take his own life.

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 at his sentence hearing earlier in the year.

Justice Weinstein also said that he was likely suffering a major depressive disorder at the time of the killing.

On Friday Ratke was jailed for 17 years and three months, with an 11-year non-parole period, meaning he will first be eligible for release in December 2031.

“I also observe that bearing in mind Mr Ratke’s age, there is every possibility that he will die whilst in custody,” Justice Weinstein said.

Originally published as Tragic reason Blue Mountains man murdered wife of 52 years