Marta’s killer sentenced to life imprisonment

On October 19, 2021, Northamptonshire Police received a 999 call from the desperately worried family of Marta Chmielecka.
Her sister-in-law told the call handler they hadn’t seen Marta since the previous Friday, October 15, and she had failed to arrive at work that morning, which was out of character for the ‘vibrant, kind’ 31-year-old.
All they had heard from her since was a text message which read like someone else had written it, and they were concerned Chmielecki, from whom she had separated in 2020, could be involved.
In light of these concerns, and aware of a history of domestic abuse against Marta by Chmielecki, police officers were sent to his home and broke down the door to find the 40-year-old lying alongside Marta’s body.
Marta had suffered 32 sharp force injuries, including defensive injuries to her hand and arm, and 19 stab wounds to her face and neck, which had proved fatal.
Gathered by detectives from EMSOU investigating her murder, the following CCTV shows how Marta had encountered Chmielecki in the street on the evening of October 15, and traces their journey to his rented room in Wood Street, Kettering.
Body-worn video from officers attending the 999 call reveals the moment Chmielecki was found there with self-inflicted wounds to his neck, with Marta’s body beside him.
On October 21, 2021, he was arrested from his hospital bed for her murder, and today, Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at Northampton Crown Court, Chmielecki was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 18 years and four months.
Read the court report here: www.northants....
Read a tribute to Marta from her family here: www.northants....