Derby Woman's Grisly Trial: Accused of Dismembering Partner and Burying Body in Garden
In a harrowing case that has shocked the local community, Anna Podedworna, a 40-year-old woman from Derby, is currently on trial at Derby Crown Court for the alleged murder of her girlfriend, Izabela Zablocka. The court has heard disturbing details, including claims that Podedworna used a kitchen knife to cut the victim's body in two before burying the remains in the garden of their shared terraced house in Normanton, Derby.
Discovery of Remains After 15 Years
Izabela Zablocka, a 30-year-old mother-of-one, was reported missing in August 2010 and had not been in contact with her family since that time. Astonishingly, her remains were not discovered until June of last year, a full 15 years after her disappearance. The court was told that Podedworna herself contacted the police, informing them that they would find Zablocka's dismembered body in the back garden of the property.
Jurors have been shown previously unseen video footage capturing the moment of Podedworna's arrest by Derbyshire Police. In the clip, officers are seen handcuffing her and reading her rights before leading her away. This visual evidence has added a chilling dimension to the proceedings, highlighting the gravity of the allegations.
Background of the Relationship and Alleged Incident
The court heard that Podedworna and Zablocka were in a sexual relationship after moving to the UK from Poland. Both women worked at a poultry factory called Cranberry Foods in Scropton, Derbyshire, with Podedworna employed as a skilled butcher. Her work involved skinning, deboning, and portioning turkey carcasses using a large knife, a detail that prosecutors have emphasised in relation to the alleged dismemberment.
During her testimony, Podedworna described the day of Zablocka's death, claiming that her partner was "angry" and questioned why she had returned home late from work. She alleged that Zablocka, who regularly drank alcohol, grabbed her, pressed her against a wall, and strangled her until she found it "difficult" to breathe. Podedworna stated she was "terrified" and believed "she was going to kill me."
Defence Claims and Gruesome Details
Podedworna told the jury that she tried to push Zablocka away and, in a desperate attempt to defend herself, grabbed a figurine of a horse from a window and struck her with it. After checking for a pulse and attempting resuscitation, she said she panicked, fearing no one would believe she was acting in self-defence. "I thought I would go to prison for the rest of my life," she explained, adding that she felt "just terrified" and overwhelmed by fear.
It was then, she claimed, that she made the fateful decision to bury Zablocka in the garden. Unable to lift the body whole, she resorted to cutting it into two pieces, a task she described as seeming like "the only way." She placed the remains in plastic bin bags and interred them in a hole in the garden. When asked about her feelings during this act, Podedworna replied, "That I'm some type of a monster."
History of Conflict and Denials
The trial has also revealed a history of conflict between the two women. Podedworna testified that they argued frequently over money or jealousy, and on one occasion while living in Poland, Zablocka allegedly gave her a black eye. In a separate claim, Zablocka's daughter told the court she recalls Podedworna chasing her mother with a knife in Poland, an allegation that Podedworna has denied.
Anna Podedworna, of Boyer Street, Derby, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, preventing a lawful burial, and perverting the course of justice. The trial continues, with the jury tasked with weighing the evidence in this deeply disturbing case that has left a family searching for answers for over a decade and a half.
