Woman accused of fatally stabbing City banker partner exchanged intimate messages with another man, court told

A woman accused of fatally stabbing her City banker partner exchanged intimate messages with another man while on holiday in Greece the year before, a court has heard.

Joanna Cierpka, 51, allegedly murdered Henrik Slotsaa in March after he told her on her birthday that he had met someone else at London’s Citibank office in Canary Wharf, where he worked, the Old Bailey has heard.

On Tuesday, jurors heard a series of messages she exchanged with a restaurant worker she called her “sweet boy” the summer of 2025.

In the Viber exchange, she appeared to be discussing an arrangement to meet with Dennis Leftakis after his shift.

When Cierpka suggested he might need rest “instead of depressing old woman”, Mr Leftakis responded: “No don’t say that” and told her he wanted to kiss and hug her.

The next morning, she messaged to ask how he was feeling, saying: “Hope I did not drain you dead.”

He replied: “Alive, not dead but alive.”

After picking up Mr Slotsaa at the airport later that day, she messaged Mr Leftakis again, saying: “Still feel you on and in me.”

Before Mr Slotsaa joined her in Greece, Cierpka had referred to him as “my Viking” in separate WhatsApp messages, the court was told.

Cierpka was arrested after police found the 52-year-old’s body at their home in Elephant and Castle, south London, on March 15 2026, following welfare concerns.

Prosecutor Danny Robinson KC told jurors about internet searches found on Cierpka’s phone in the days before Mr Slotsaa’s body was discovered.

On February 19, Cierpka’s phone was also used to search for the phrase “I don’t want to live anymore, how to end it”, jurors were told.

On March 8, there were searches for “which artery bleeds the fastest” and how to find the aorta, femoral and carotid arteries.

The following day, Cierpka’s phone was used to look up the “highest penalty in the UK”, the court was told.

Polish national Cierpka has pleaded not guilty to murder, but she says she is guilty of manslaughter by reason of her diminished responsibility.

The court has heard how Cierpka was made redundant, which affected her self-confidence, and she had previously received treatment and medication for depression.

At the conclusion of the prosecution case, the Old Bailey trial was adjourned until Wednesday.