Woman admits manslaughter after boyfriend's death

Joanna Cierpka, 51, told jurors her City banker boyfriend, Henrik Slotsaa, said 'Kill yourself already, you freak' before she fatally stabbed him. Mr Slotsaa, 52, was found dead at their home in Elephant and Castle on March 15, 2026. Cierpka has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility, as reported by MyLondon and The Standard.

Relationship breakdown and mental health struggles

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Giving evidence at the Old Bailey, Cierpka, an unemployed business executive, described how her relationship with Mr Slotsaa and her own mental health had deteriorated. She told jurors that Mr Slotsaa had informed her he no longer loved her and had met someone else on her birthday in January. Cierpka stated she felt sad after viewing text messages between Mr Slotsaa and the other woman on his phone but did not confront him. As reported by The Standard, she told the court that Mr Slotsaa did not understand her depression, despite her telling him she did not want to live. She also recounted him saying she was only talking about ending her life and not acting on it.

Cierpka told the court that Mr Slotsaa had also expressed annoyance at her scratching her eczema, saying, 'Kill yourself already, you freak.' She also stated that he had told her to ensure the jointly owned flat would go to him if she died. As reported by MyLondon, days before Mr Slotsaa's death, Cierpka searched online for his female co-worker out of curiosity. She also searched for 'artery and neck', stating she intended to end her own life.

Events leading to Mr Slotsaa's death

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On February 19, 2026, Cierpka searched the internet for phrases including 'I don’t want to live anymore' and 'how to end it', the court heard. Cierpka told jurors she did not know if Mr Slotsaa was alive or dead when she searched for 'the highest penalty in the UK' on March 9. She recalled going to the kitchen for a knife to kill herself, and her next memory was sitting in the living room with the blade on the coffee table. As reported by The Standard, she stated she did not remember cutting Mr Slotsaa's neck in the bedroom or how he sustained injuries to the back of his knees, which were described as consistent with an attempt at dismemberment. Cierpka told jurors she felt 'mortified' because she believed she was the one who was supposed to be dead. She explained her failure to call the police by stating, 'I wanted to be dead before anyone found out.'

In the week before Mr Slotsaa's body was found, Cierpka said she did not change her clothes. She had met Mr Slotsaa through an online dating site and moved in with him, eventually sharing a mortgage on their London flat. The defendant described their past as an active social life with regular outings. She found the coronavirus lockdown particularly difficult. After being made redundant at the end of 2020, she struggled to find new employment while experiencing depression. As reported by MyLondon, Cierpka also recounted a five-week affair in Greece in 2025 with Dennis Leftakis, who ran a taverna, stating it 'just happened' even though she still loved Mr Slotsaa.

Trial continues

The trial at the Old Bailey continues. Cierpka's defence counsel, Jacqueline Carey KC, questioned whether Mr Slotsaa understood her mental state. Danny Robinson KC, for the prosecution, suggested Cierpka did not tell Mr Slotsaa about her affair but that he had been clear about not loving her and meeting someone else. Mr Robinson asserted that despite not loving her, Mr Slotsaa was still trying to help her. Cierpka confirmed he had suggested she seek help for her depression. The prosecution suggested that Cierpka decided to kill Mr Slotsaa because she felt jealous after reading text exchanges between him and his colleague.