Man restrained partner with bag before murder, jury told

A "jealous" partner used a Tesco shopping bag to restrain his girlfriend before raping and murdering her after she wanted to end the relationship, a jury has heard.

Stephen Sexton, 39, is standing trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of killing Joanna Derkacz at her home in Waterlooville, Hampshire, in December 2023.

Prosecutors said Sexton displayed jealous and controlling behaviour during what they described as a toxic and abusive relationship.

Sexton, of Cherrywood Gardens, in Totton, Hampshire, denies raping and murdering the 37-year-old, as well as behaving in a coercive or controlling manner.

The court heard the relationship became increasingly violent and threatening.

Nicola Shannon KC, prosecuting, said Derkacz had told her sister Arleta that on one occasion Sexton had tried to strangle her, but she had managed to push him away.

He also broke her mobile and her laptop in fits of anger after Derkacz had come home 20 minutes late from seeing friends, the court was told.

After the row, prosecutors said Derkacz took shelter at a friend's house and Sexton reported her missing to the police. The court heard this may have prompted her to ask him to move out.

When two female police officers visited the property in Nevison Way on 11 December to carry out a welfare check, Derkacz described her boyfriend as "very controlling" and "narcissistic".

"He has this thing where he flips," she said.

The jury was told that Sexton had previous convictions for assaulting his ex-wife and damaging her phone.

Prosecutors allege Derkacz was murdered during the early hours of 28 December 2023.

Jurors heard post-mortem examinations found three broken bones in her neck and that the injuries were likely caused using an arm or crook of an elbow.

They were also told that DNA evidence showed she had been sexually assaulted.

Prosecutors said Derkacz's saliva was found inside a Tesco shopping bag next to her bed and that Sexton's fingerprints and saliva were on the outside.

Derkacz's body was found by her sister Arleta at the house in Waterlooville later that morning.

Prosecutors said Arleta went to the property after becoming concerned her sister had not been answering calls.

They said she found Sexton at the top of the stairs and, after pushing past him, discovered her sister's lifeless body in her bedroom.

Jurors heard Arleta ran downstairs to find Sexton in the kitchen holding a knife, which he pointed at his own wrist.

The prosecution said Arleta ran out of the house screaming "he has killed my sister" and her husband dialed 999.

The trial is listed for 12 weeks.