Man Accused of Murdering Girlfriend After She Ended Relationship
A court heard a man allegedly raped and murdered his girlfriend when she decided to end their relationship, with prosecutors describing him as 'narcissistic' and controlling.
Stephen Sexton, 39, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court, facing charges of rape, coercive control, and murder of Joanna Derkacz, 37. Her body was discovered in their shared home in Waterlooville, Hampshire, on December 28, 2023.
Prosecutor Nicola Shannon KC told the court that Sexton had become increasingly controlling towards Ms. Derkacz for over a year leading up to her death. "We say he had become increasingly controlling, leading on to the ultimate acts of intimate and physical control – rape and then murder when Stephen Sexton realised that she had determined to get him out of her life," Shannon stated.
Shannon described Sexton as "violent and threatening" and recounted an instance where Ms. Derkacz alleged he had strangled her before she managed to push him away. The relationship reportedly took a significant turn on December 10 when Sexton allegedly broke Ms. Derkacz's laptop in a fit of anger after she returned home 20 minutes late from an outing with friends.
Following this incident, Ms. Derkacz left the house to stay with a friend. Sexton subsequently reported her missing to the police, which the prosecution suggested was an attempt to locate her. However, Ms. Derkacz returned to the home. She had asked Sexton to move out but agreed he could stay until puppies born to their dogs had been sold.
On December 11, police conducted a welfare check on Ms. Derkacz. During this visit, she described Sexton as "very controlling" and "narcissistic," stating he disliked her going out. She also told officers that Sexton had "threatened to take the puppies from me." When officers suggested this was not a reason to stay, she responded, "Well it is for me."
Shannon commented on the tragic circumstances, noting that despite Ms. Derkacz's wariness and the "red flags," neither she nor the officers appeared to realize the extent of Sexton's potential actions once he understood she was leaving him. The prosecutor suggested Ms. Derkacz's "optimism and compassion may have cost her her life."
A post-mortem examination revealed that Ms. Derkacz died from compression of the neck. Intimate swabs found semen with DNA matching the defendant, which the Crown alleges dates to around the time of her death and indicates rape, as sexual activity at that point would not have been consensual.
Sexton, of Totton, Southampton, denies all charges. The trial is ongoing.