A welder allegedly visited two sex workers shortly after raping and murdering his partner, who had sought to end their relationship, a court has heard. The prosecution suggested the defendant may have been "aroused" by the killing.
Stephen Sexton is on trial at Winchester Crown Court, charged with rape, coercive control and the murder of 37-year-old Joanna Derkacz at their home in Nevison Way, Waterlooville, Hampshire.
Prosecution Case
Prosecuting barrister Nicola Shannon KC told the court that Sexton allegedly killed Ms Derkacz because she wanted him to leave their shared home. Ms Derkacz died from compression to the neck, and is believed to have been killed between 12.20am and 12.46am on December 28, 2023.
The jury heard that shortly after the alleged killing, Sexton arranged to visit two sex workers. The first visit in Portsmouth lasted only around one minute at 1.49am, which Ms Shannon suggested "maybe it was unsuccessful". Sexton then returned home before arranging a second visit to another sex worker in Portsmouth at approximately 2.50am.
Alleged Control and Stalking
Ms Shannon said: "Whatever had happened between them (Ms Derkacz and Sexton) at the house, it appears that Stephen Sexton's sexual arousal had not been fully satisfied. It may be too that the act of killing her aroused a degree of excitement in itself."
The prosecutor said the 39-year-old defendant had become increasingly controlling towards his partner for more than a year before her death. She told the court: "On one occasion, Joanna went to Kwik Fit because she was concerned that there was an Apple AirTag tracker fitted to her car and indeed there was, lodged, hidden, under one of the front wheel arches."
The pair had "socialised with neighbours in what was a friendly street", and locals described Ms Derkacz as a "petite young woman who was always well-presented". Sexton had operated a welding business that had collapsed, and acquaintances said Ms Derkacz covered all the household expenses.
Final Messages and Trial
Ms Shannon told the court: "That apparent stability, however, we would submit, was a thin veneer on what was, in reality, a toxic and abusive relationship in which we say his behaviour was jealous, controlling and coercive."
Sexton allegedly grew envious of any interactions Ms Derkacz had with male friends and work colleagues, and displayed a "degree of stalking" by monitoring her emails and dispatching a "warning message" to one of her co-workers. He would consume drugs, which "led to fits of anger and threats of violence".
Among the final messages sent by Ms Derkacz to the defendant was: "Not only that I can't trust u not only with women but I don't feel save (sic) around you." Ms Shannon concluded: "Tragically, her concerns were, we say, well-founded – the evidence suggests that within an hour of sending that message she was dead."
Ms Derkacz had issued Sexton with an "ultimatum" to vacate their property by noon the next day, before blocking his phone number. Sexton, from Totton, Southampton, denies the allegations, and the trial is ongoing.
