Man pleads guilty to the murder of Marta Chmielecka

A 39-year-old man has pleaded guilty to the murder of 31-year-old Kettering woman - Marta Chmielecka.

Pawel Chmielecki, previously of Kettering, has been on remand, charged with Marta’s murder, since October 2021.

Detectives were first alerted to concerns for Marta’s welfare when a family member reported concerns to Northamptonshire Police on Tuesday, October 19, 2021.

The family member in question had not seen Marta since the Friday before and she had also received a text message from Marta’s phone in a way she would not usually write, suggestive that someone else was using it.

Her last known location was Wood Street in Kettering, and that morning, officers made their way to the property and forced entry.

As they entered, they found Marta’s ex-husband, Pawel Chmielecki, and upon officers’ arrival, he stabbed himself.

Marta was later sadly found dead inside the property and officers believe she could have died a couple of days beforehand.

Pawel Chmielecki was detained and taken to hospital, where he subsequently recovered from his injuries. He was then arrested and charged in connection with Marta’s murder and at Northampton Crown Court today (March 3), he pleaded guilty to her murder.

He will be sentenced at Northampton Crown Court on March 28, 2022.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Pete Long, said: “Marta Chmielecka was a young, vibrant and much-loved woman who was killed at the hands of a jealous, controlling ex-husband.

“She had broken away from a relationship of domestic abuse and was starting to enjoy life again, meeting new people and coming out of her shell once more.

“Pawel Chmielecki could not accept this and at his hands, Marta’s promising future was extinguished.

“He then tried to kill himself when officers forced entry into Wood Street, however was unsuccessful, and will now be looking at a long stretch in prison staring at the four walls of a cell.

“Violence against women, especially at the hands of a current or former partner, is a very real issue. Indeed, two women a week are killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales alone.

“At Northamptonshire Police we are doing our utmost to make the Force a safe place for victims of domestic abuse and I want anyone suffering in a relationship reading this to have no doubt that we will believe them and that we will do everything in our power to help them safely extricate themselves from their abuser.

"We know it isn’t easy but we can help you.

“As today’s hearing comes to a close, my thoughts remain with Marta’s family and friends who are still trying to come to terms with her death.

“No sentence or no amount of justice will bring Marta back but a small comfort is that they do not have to go through the trauma of a trial. I hope they also take comfort in the fact that Pawel Chmielecki will be spending a long time behind bars as a result of his actions.” 

At the conclusion of the court hearing, Marta’s family, said: “Marta was always smiling. She was a very kind and caring person and life will never be the same without her. We miss her every day.”