A judge has ordered Legal Aid represent a convicted murderer despite the publicly funded body arguing it shouldn’t.

Mother-of-two Rachel Wake was stabbed to death by her ex-husband in her home. (Ethan James/AAP PHOTOS)

Publicly-funded Legal Aid has been ordered to represent a convicted murderer in an appeal despite arguing its services should not be provided.

Darren Mark Wake is serving 26 years behind bars for stabbing his ex-wife and mother-of-two Rachel Wake to death at her Hobart home on Christmas Day in 2021.

Wake, who was sentenced in 2024 and has a non-parole period of 17 years, has lodged an appeal against the length of the sentence arguing it is manifestly excessive.

Legal aid ordered for ex-wife killer's sentence appeal

He used a folding knife to stab his ex-wife 17 times in a vicious attack motivated by resentment.

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.

Wake appeared in the Supreme Court of Tasmania on Tuesday via video link from prison.

Tasmania’s Legal Aid Commission lawyer Rochelle Mainwaring said Wake’s application for Legal Aid had no merit, the matter was not complex and it was not in the interest of justice for the service to represent him.

Many applicants appealing their sentence length represented themselves, she told the court.

Justice Michael Daly ordered Legal Aid represent Wake, saying he had a right to lawyers.

It was important 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.

“How could you realistically, other than for resourcing purposes, be making these submissions?” he asked Mainwaring.

The appeal, which the court was told related to a sentence discount given to Wake, will return to court at a later date.

Wake made admissions to police soon after the crime but pleaded not guilty, before changing his plea to guilty in December 2023.

Sentencing judge Justice Helen Wood said the victim was entitled to stand her ground when Wake tried to enter the house against her wishes.

Wake blamed his former partner for his deteriorating relationship with their son. He had been told by his ex his son didn’t want to see him.

“(Ms Wake) must have realised in those moments (the) purpose was to inflict lethal force,” Wood said.

“She endured that knowing her son was in the house and her daughter nearby.”

Romany, a Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year nominee, has campaigned to improve legislation in relation to domestic violence.