Exclusive:Police visited Joanna Derkacz days before she died - after man accused of her murder called 101
Sexton denies charges of murder, rape, and coercive or controlling behaviour.
The man accused of murdering his partner reported her to police days before she died - telling them she had been driving under the influence of drugs.
“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 this morning (Thursday, October 22), the jury was shown messages between Ms Derkacz and a group chat with her friends, whom she spent a day with on December 10, 2023.
During that day, Sexton messaged her on several occasions to ask if she was “having a nice time,” before calling her when she was late getting home.
Nicola Shannon KC, prosecuting, said: “When she was not home at the time she had been saying, Sexton texts her. He then screenshotted the message where she said what time she would be home.”
The following morning, Ms Derkacz messaged a group chat with some of her friends, where she described how Sexton had treated her when she returned home.
She said: “[He] made a scene when I came back. He broke my work laptop.
“Thank God the work phone is in one piece.
“F***er has a nerve - he’s reported that I was driving high.”
Following Sexton’s report, police visited their property on December 11. Ms Derkacz was not arrested, but bodyworn footage from PC Gilbert speaking with her was recorded.
The footage of officers talking to Sexton was not saved.
Ms Shannon added: “A few days later, Ms Derkacz had died. Good practice would have been for Sezton’s account on bodyworn camera to have been retained.”
Sexton did not contest that he broke Ms Darkacz’s laptop, and later pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage at Portsmouth Magistrates Court.
PC Gilbert added: “He told us he broke a laptop and ordered her a new one. He also said they had an argument and had split up.”
The court previously heard Sexton was found in a shower cubicle with “both arms cut” with him “bleeding heavily”. When arrested he told officers: “Please let me die.”
A post mortem found Joanna had internal fractures of bones on both sides of her neck, which prosecutors allege was caused by being strangled in Sexton’s forearm or the crook of his elbow.
His DNA was also found on Joanna after he allegedly raped her, jurors were told.
(Proceeding)