Exclusive:Friend of Joanna Derkacz says she had 'many arguments' with boyfriend before she was found dead
Sexton denies charges of murder, rape, and coercive or controlling behaviour.
The friend of a woman found dead in her home said there were ‘problems’ with her partner leading up to her death.
“Jealous” Stephen Sexton, 39, is alleged to have strangled Joanna Derkacz, 37, in the early hours of December 28, 2023, at their home in Nevinson Way, Waterlooville.
Sexton, of Cherrywood Gardens, Totton, denies murder, rape, and coercive or controlling behaviour at the retrial.
At Winchester Crown Court today (Wednesday, October 28), the jury heard from Katarzyna Sliwinska, who was a friend of Ms Derkacz for roughly nine years before her death. The pair had met through their partners at the time, and Ms Derkacz began dating Sexton shortly after.
Ms Sliwinska said: “In September 2022 we were all supposed to be going to a festival; Joanna showed up without Sexton, and she told us there were some problems. She spent a lot of time on her phone that day.
“She came back home with me and was shacking and crying - they had a fight and she said he threw water at her, and threw their dog at her - she said something about domestic abuse too.
“Joanna couldn’t even work because he had taken her work phone.”
The witness went with Ms Derkacz to collect some things from her home with Sexton. The defendant sat in the bedroom staring out the window, she told the jury, and refused to acknowledge either of them, even when Ms Sliwinska asked if he was okay.
After this incident, Ms Sliwinska found herself “in the middle” of the pair’s falling out, with messages going back and forth through her.
In a text message, Sexton said: “It’s now or never - if she doesn’t want to sort us out and come home soon, then that’s answer enough.”
Shortly after, he blocked Ms Sliwinska and her partner’s phone numbers, she added.
On another occasion, Ms Sliwinska messaged Ms Derkacz to ask if she was “still alive”, the court heard.
“She wanted to talk with him and they came to an agreement, to try again to sort things out,” she tearfully said. “Soon after, she stopped sharing details of their relationship with me. I later found out there were problems again.”
Ms Sliwinska messaged Ms Derkacz a Merry Christmas on December 25, 2023, but never received a response.
(Proceeding)