News
How a TV journalist helped crack a murder cold case
A conversation between journalist Rafal Zalewski and the individual convicted of murder served as the catalyst that ultimately led to her admission of guilt.
During an interview in Derby, Polish TV journalist Rafal Zalewski sensed that Anna Podedworna was concealing information, prompting him to dig deeper into the case.
Prosecutors have credited Zalewski's investigative work as the catalyst that led Podedworna to reach out to Derbyshire Police via email, ultimately revealing the location of her partner Izabela Zablocka's remains.
In 2010, Podedworna, a skilled butcher, murdered Izabela at their Derby residence, dismembered her body, and buried the remains in the garden; she was found guilty of murder on Tuesday.
In a statement to the BBC, Zalewski recalled that Podedworna appeared nervous and taken aback during their conversation.
Warning: The details of this article may be disturbing for some readers.
Zalewski, a reporter for Polsat, a prominent Polish TV channel, received a request from Izabela's daughter, Kasia, to investigate her mother's disappearance, which led him to confront Podedworna at her Boyer Street home.
Despite Podedworna's claims of ignorance regarding Izabela's whereabouts, Zalewski remained skeptical, sensing that she was withholding information.
Zalewski's instincts suggested that Podedworna was not being truthful, and he believed she was hiding something.
According to Zalewski, Podedworna had been identified by Izabela's family from the outset as someone who might have knowledge about the disappearance.
Zalewski noted that Podedworna's demeanor during their interaction was marked by surprise and nervousness.
The pressure mounted by Zalewski's inquiry ultimately led Podedworna to confess, 15 years after the crime.
On May 15, 2025, Podedworna sent an email to Derbyshire Police regarding Izabela, an unexpected move that caught the authorities off guard.
Initially, the police were unclear about the context of Podedworna's email, as it seemed to come out of nowhere.
The police responded to Podedworna's email, requesting additional information to clarify the situation.
Over the ensuing days, Podedworna and the police engaged in an email exchange.
The correspondence culminated in an email on May 24, in which Podedworna informed detectives that they would find Izabela's remains buried in the garden of a house on Princes Street, Normanton.
Later that day, Podedworna visited Pear Tree police station in Derby, where she admitted to killing Izabela.
However, Podedworna claimed that Izabela's death was an accident, resulting from a violent altercation in which she had acted in self-defense.
The jury rejected this claim after Podedworna took the stand.
Zalewski reflected on his interaction with Podedworna, stating that she had deceived Izabela's family with numerous falsehoods.
Zalewski recalled sensing that Podedworna might be hiding something, which was reinforced by her nervous behavior during their encounter.
Zalewski noted that, following their conversation, Podedworna contacted the police and revealed the location of Izabela's remains, exposing the gruesome and disturbing circumstances surrounding her death.
The case had garnered significant attention in Poland and among Polish nationals in the UK.
Zalewski observed that, while walking through the streets of Derby, people frequently approached him, inquiring about the case and seeking updates on the prosecution.
Zalewski predicted that the case would attract even more attention once the sentencing was announced.
Detective Inspector Kane Martin acknowledged the crucial roles played by Kasia and Zalewski in the case, stating that their actions prompted Podedworna to contact the police and reveal the location of Izabela's remains.
Martin emphasized that the contributions of Kasia and Zalewski were instrumental in bringing the case to a close.
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.
He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
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