A Polish woman stands accused of murdering her partner, dismembering the body, and concealing the remains in a garden for nearly fifteen years, a Derby court has been told in distressing proceedings.
Gruesome Allegations in Derby Crown Court
Anna Podedworna, aged 40, faces charges of murder, preventing a lawful burial, and perverting the course of justice in connection with the death of Izabela Zablocka in 2010. The jury heard that Podedworna allegedly engaged in what the prosecution described as "deliberate, calculated, gruesome and time-consuming acts" to hide the crime.
A Stormy Relationship and Fatal Outcome
The court was informed that the relationship between Podedworna and Ms Zablocka was "stormy and turbulent". Both women had moved from Poland to the UK in 2009, initially living in London before settling in a terraced house in Normanton, Derby. They were both employed at a poultry factory called Cranberry Foods at the time.
Prosecutor Gordon Aspden KC detailed the allegations, stating that after a final phone call to her mother on 28 August 2010, Ms Zablocka's family lost contact with her. The prosecution claims that Podedworna murdered her shortly thereafter.
Horrific Details of the Alleged Cover-Up
Mr Aspden told the jury of seven women and five men that Podedworna allegedly dismembered Ms Zablocka's body by cutting it in half with a large knife. The remains were then trussed with electrical tape, placed in black plastic bin bags, and buried in the back garden of their Princes Street home.
"A section of concrete hardstanding was then laid over the top to hide Izabela's filthy, makeshift grave," the prosecutor added, describing what he called a post-murder cover-up carried out with resolve over several days.
Years of Deception and Eventual Discovery
Ms Zablocka's family reported her missing to UK police in November 2010 and to Polish authorities in January 2011. When questioned by officers, Podedworna claimed she had no knowledge of her partner's whereabouts, which the prosecution characterized as "all lies and a continuation of the post-murder cover-up."
The court heard that mounting pressure eventually led Podedworna to contact Derbyshire Police last year after an interview with a Polish television journalist. She subsequently attended a police station and admitted killing Ms Zablocka, though she now claims it was an accident during a violent confrontation where she was acting in self-defence.
Mr Aspden dismissed this new claim as "yet another lie by this defendant to conceal her guilt, to cover up the murder and to deceive and hoodwink those around her."
Trial Proceedings and Denial of Charges
Dressed in a grey sweatshirt and black glasses, Podedworna listened to proceedings in the dock at Derby Crown Court with the assistance of a Polish interpreter. Police discovered Ms Zablocka's remains in the garden of the Princes Street property where the pair had lived together.
The victim, who was 30 at the time of her death, had grown up in Trzebiatow in north-west Poland. She had been married previously and had a daughter named Katarzyna who remained in Poland.
Anna Podedworna denies all charges against her. The trial continues as the court examines the horrific allegations that have remained hidden for nearly fifteen years.
