Derby Butcher Found Guilty of Brutal Murder and Concealment After 15-Year Cover-Up
A Derby butcher has been convicted of murder after chopping her girlfriend in half with a kitchen knife and burying the remains in a Midlands garden, where they lay undiscovered for more than 15 years. Anna Podedworna, a 40-year-old Polish national, was found guilty by a unanimous jury at Derby Crown Court for the killing of Izabela Zablocka, a mother-of-one who vanished in August 2010.
Gruesome Discovery in Normanton Garden
Last June, police officers uncovered the 30-year-old victim's remains under a concrete hardstanding in the garden of a terraced house on Princes Street in Normanton, Derby. The property had been shared by the couple after they moved to the UK from Poland together. Ms Zablocka's body was found trussed up 'like a chicken' with electrical tape and dumped in bin bags within what was described as a 'filthy, makeshift grave'.
Prosecutor Gordon Aspden KC detailed to the court how Podedworna engaged in a series of 'deliberate, calculated, gruesome and time-consuming acts' to cover up the murder over several days. He noted that 'considerable force' would have been required to sever the body in half, and that her legs had been bound together prior to burial.
Skilled Butcher's Employment and Alibi
At the time of the killing, Podedworna worked as a skilled butcher at Cranberry Foods, a poultry factory in Scropton, Derbyshire. Her role involved skinning, deboning, and portioning turkey carcasses using a large knife. Employment records revealed that she took two weeks off work shortly after Ms Zablocka made her final contact with her mother, adding to the timeline of events.
The case broke open when Podedworna, under 'mounting pressure', emailed police last year after a Polish television journalist travelled to the UK to interview her. This led to the investigation that ultimately uncovered the hidden remains.
Defence Claims and Court Proceedings
During the trial, Podedworna gave evidence with the assistance of a Polish interpreter, claiming that Ms Zablocka was 'angry' on the day of her death and had allegedly grabbed and strangled her. She asserted that she acted in self-defence, hitting Ms Zablocka with a horse figurine because she believed her partner intended to kill her.
Instead of seeking medical help when she could not find a pulse, Podedworna admitted to deciding to cut the body in half with a knife and bury it in the garden. She told jurors, 'I was just terrified, I felt fear. I thought I will bury her. I took the decision I would bury her in the garden. I wanted to pick her up whole. I just did not have the strength to pick her up. I had an idea to cut her down. It seemed the only way… to cut her into two.'
Impact on Victim's Family and Justice Served
Samantha Shallow from the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted the profound impact on Ms Zablocka's loved ones, stating, 'Ms Zablocka came to Derby in search of a new life with her partner, but instead met her death. Podedworna not only brutally murdered her partner, but she subjected Izabela’s loved ones to 15 years of uncertainty and anguish, not knowing if she was alive or dead.'
She added, 'Podedworna hid the truth for years, but justice has caught up with her. Her callous actions took a mother and daughter away from her family and denied them the opportunity to grieve her passing and lay her to rest.'
Podedworna, of Boyer Street, Derby, was convicted of murder, preventing a lawful burial, and perverting the course of justice. She now faces a life sentence and is scheduled to be sentenced at Derby Crown Court on Wednesday, February 11.
