Midlands Murder Trial Hears Gruesome Details of Mother's Alleged Dismemberment
A harrowing murder trial at Derby Crown Court has heard disturbing allegations about the death of a mother whose remains were discovered buried in a Midlands garden after nearly 15 years missing. Polish national Izabela Zablocka, who was 30 at the time of her disappearance, was allegedly killed by her partner Anna Podedworna in what prosecutors describe as a violent death followed by an elaborate cover-up.
Allegations of Dismemberment and Concealment
Prosecutor Gordon Aspden KC told the jury of seven women and five men that Podedworna, now 40, allegedly murdered Zablocka in 2010 before engaging in what he called "deliberate, calculated, gruesome and time-consuming acts" to conceal the crime. The court heard that Zablocka's body was allegedly cut in half with a large knife, wrapped in electrical tape, placed in black plastic bin bags, and buried in the back garden of their terraced house in Normanton, Derby.
A concrete hardstanding was then laid over the burial site, creating what the prosecutor described as a "filthy, makeshift grave" that remained undetected for almost a decade and a half. The prosecution alleges this was part of an extensive post-murder cover-up designed to hide the crime from authorities and Zablocka's family.
Relationship History and Disappearance
The trial heard details about the couple's relationship, which was described as "stormy and turbulent." Originally from Poland, where Zablocka had been married and had a daughter named Katarzyna, the two women began a relationship after Zablocka's marriage ended. They moved to the UK in 2009 seeking work, initially living in London before settling in Derby where both worked at a poultry factory called Cranberry Foods.
Zablocka's family last heard from her during a phone call to her mother on August 28, 2010. The prosecution alleges she was murdered shortly after this final communication. Her family reported her missing to UK police in November 2010 and later contacted Polish authorities in January 2011, beginning years of uncertainty about her whereabouts.
Defendant's Changing Accounts
When police initially spoke to Podedworna about Zablocka's disappearance, she claimed not to know where her partner was. Prosecutors allege this was "all lies and a continuation of the post-murder cover-up." The court heard that mounting pressure eventually caused Podedworna to "crack" last year when approached by a Polish television journalist.
Podedworna subsequently contacted Derbyshire Police, admitting she had killed Zablocka but claiming it was an accident during a violent confrontation where she was merely defending herself. Prosecutor Aspden told the court this new account represented "yet another lie by this defendant to conceal her guilt, to cover up the murder and to deceive and hoodwink those around her."
Discovery and Legal Proceedings
Zablocka's remains were eventually discovered by police in the garden of the Princes Street property where the couple had lived together. Podedworna, who appeared in court wearing a grey sweatshirt and black glasses with the assistance of a Polish interpreter, denies three charges: murder between August 27 and October 1, 2010, preventing a lawful burial, and perverting the course of justice between August 27, 2010, and June 2, 2025.
The trial continues at Derby Crown Court, where jurors will hear further evidence in what prosecutors describe as a particularly gruesome case involving years of alleged deception following a violent death. The proceedings have drawn significant attention due to the prolonged period between the alleged murder and the discovery of the remains, as well as the disturbing nature of the concealment methods described in court.
