Engineer who is accused of raping and murdering his girlfriend then visited two sex workers within hours, jury hears
Joanna Derkacz was found dead on her bed by her sister, who fled the house screaming that he had killed her, as Stephen Sexton, 39, goes on trial for her rape and murder.Stephen Sexton, accused of strangling his partner Joanna Derkacz, allegedly visited two sex workers in Portsmouth within hours of her death, prosecutors told Winchester Crown Court.
Stephen Sexton, 39, allegedly drove Joanna Derkacz's car to Portsmouth, making a one-minute visit at 1.49am and a second at about 2.50am. Prosecutor Nicola Shannon KC told jurors that 'the act of killing her' may have aroused excitement. The 37-year-old recruitment consultant is said to have died between 12.20am and 12.46am on December 28, 2023, in Waterlooville. Sexton denies murder, rape and coercive control.
Joanna told police he was 'very controlling' less than three weeks before her death.
She found an Apple AirTag tracker hidden under her car's wheel arch, jurors heard.
Defence barrister Jodie Mittell KC disputed when the fractures to her neck occurred.
