Polish woman jailed in UK for murdering partner and burying her in garden

DERBY, United Kingdom — A 40-year-old woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2010 murder of her partner, whose remains were discovered buried in the garden of a Derby property more than 15 years after her disappearance.

Anna Podedworna, of Boyer Street, Derby, was found guilty of murdering Izabela Zablocka following a jury trial at Derby Crown Court. On Wednesday, Mrs Justice Williams KC sentenced her to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years.

The court heard that Zablocka, 30, was last heard from on 28 August 2010 after calling her mother in Poland. She failed to contact her daughter, Katarzyna, known as Kasia, on 4 September 2010, her 10th birthday, raising alarm among family members.

Judge Williams said in sentencing: “It is clear from the evidence in this trial that Izabela was a loved family member, who enjoyed a close bond with her mother, grandmother and her daughter.”

Addressing the long-term impact on Zablocka’s daughter, the judge added: “As a result of your violent, manipulative and cruel actions, Kasia grew up not knowing what happened to her beloved mother who had suddenly vanished from her life without any explanation.”

The two women had moved to the United Kingdom from Poland in search of work and were living in the Normanton area of Derby at the time of the killing.

Prosecutor Gordon Aspden KC told the court that shortly after Zablocka’s final phone call, she was murdered by Podedworna. Her body was subsequently dismembered and buried in the back garden of a Princes Street property, where concrete was later laid over the site.

Police investigations revealed that Podedworna had previously worked as a “skilled butcher,” with experience deboning and portioning carcasses using large knives.

The case remained unresolved for more than a decade. In 2025, Zablocka’s daughter, now an adult, contacted Polish journalist Rafal Zalewski to investigate her mother’s disappearance. After being confronted by Zalewski outside her home, Podedworna later contacted Derbyshire Police and disclosed the burial location. A full-scale excavation of the Princes Street property led to the recovery of Zablocka’s remains.

Judge Williams told the defendant she deserved “no credit” for eventually contacting police, stating: “You have shown no remorse. You only did this to put forward a false account of Izabela’s death.”

In a victim impact statement read in court, Kasia described the lasting trauma of her mother’s disappearance.

“As a young child I was incredibly close to my mother, she was my whole world, so the fact she simply vanished from my life without a single word of explanation was a horrific experience for me,” she said.

“The worst part was the soul-crushing uncertainty… Even though I lived in limbo for years, in my heart, I always knew my mother didn’t leave me on purpose.”

Podedworna claimed she acted in self-defence, but both the jury and the judge rejected that account.

In mitigation, defence counsel Clive Stockwell KC said the defendant had previously been of good character and is the mother of two young children. However, the judge noted that she had lied repeatedly to family members and authorities over the years, obstructing justice.

Detective Inspector Kane Martin, who led the investigation, described the case as “particularly challenging and distressing.”

“Izabela was a much-loved mother, daughter, and granddaughter — nothing can bring her back but it is my hope that today’s sentencing allows her family to lay her memory to rest,” he said.

The case concludes a 15-year search for answers by Zablocka’s family, whose persistence ultimately led to the uncovering of the crime.

Editor’s Note: This report contains details that some readers may find distressing.