Anna Podedworna was convicted of murdering Izabela Zablocka and burying her in Derby garden
A woman was convicted of murdering her partner 15 years ago and burying her remains in the garden of the home they shared in Derby.
Anna Podedworna, 40, was found guilty on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, at Derby Crown Court of the murder of Izabela Zablocka, who was 30 at the time of her death. She was also convicted of preventing lawful burial and perverting the course of justice.
The court heard that Podedworna killed Ms Zablocka in 2010, dismembered her body and concealed her in a makeshift grave in the garden of their property. She later covered the burial site with a concrete hardstanding. The couple had moved from Poland to the UK in 2009 in search of work and were living together in Derby. Their relationship was described as turbulent.
In August 2010, Ms Zablocka’s regular calls to her mother and daughter in Poland suddenly stopped. Her family reported her missing both in the UK and in Poland. Podedworna told others that Ms Zablocka had left weeks earlier and claimed she had fled to London following an altercation with a dangerous individual. That account was untrue.
Fifteen years later, after contact with missing persons charities in Poland and ahead of a visit from a Polish journalist, Podedworna contacted the police online and disclosed where the remains were buried. She later attended Peartree police station in Derby and told officers that Ms Zablocka had died during a violent confrontation, claiming she had acted in self-defence.
Police searched the property and located Ms Zablocka’s remains in the garden. Podedworna was arrested on suspicion of murder and later charged by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Although Podedworna admitted responsibility for Ms Zablocka’s death, the prosecution was required to prove that she had acted unlawfully and with intent to kill or cause really serious harm. Due to the passage of time, it was not possible to establish the precise cause of death. The prosecution therefore relied on other evidence, including Podedworna’s conduct after the killing and her repeated lies to police, family members and charities.
The jury heard evidence of the extensive measures taken to conceal the body, including cutting it in half and covering the grave with concrete. Expert witnesses described the effort required. The prosecution argued that such actions were inconsistent with a death arising from accident or self-defence.
Evidence was also presented about the couple’s history, including previous incidents of violence. Employment records showed that Podedworna, who worked as a butcher at a local food processing plant, had taken two weeks off work the day after Ms Zablocka’s last contact with her family.
Samantha Shallow, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East Midlands, said the case had caused prolonged anguish to the victim’s family and that justice had now been secured.
Podedworna is due to be sentenced on Wednesday, 11 February.