A man has been charged with murdering and raping his girlfriend—nearly 18 months after her body was discovered inside their Hampshire home.
Joanna Derkacz found dead in Waterlooville home
Joanna Derkacz, 37, was found dead at a property on Nevinson Way, Waterlooville, on 28 December 2023. Police were called to the address shortly after 11.30am, launching a murder investigation at the scene.
Boyfriend Stephen Sexton now charged with murder and rape
Her boyfriend, marine engineering worker Stephen Sexton, 37, was arrested at the time and later charged with two counts of coercive and controlling behaviour. Yesterday, detectives confirmed he has now also been charged with Joanna’s murder and rape following the results of expert post-mortem evidence.
Victim’s family pays tribute to ‘sweet angel’
Joanna’s sister Arleta described her as a “sweet angel” and vowed to fight for justice “until my last breath”. In a moving tribute poem, she wrote: “You didn’t deserve this… I would walk right up to heaven and bring her back again.”
Sexton to appear in court
Sexton, of Cherrywood Gardens, Totton, was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court. Police say their investigation has been painstaking and ongoing since the day Joanna was found.
Joanna repatriated and laid to rest in Poland
A fundraiser raised over £12,000 to return Joanna’s body to her native Poland. The recruitment consultant was buried in her hometown of Czarne after a candlelit vigil was held outside her UK home on New Year’s Eve.
