Family tribute to Marta Chmielecka: 1990 – 2021

Marta Chmielecka grew up in the Polish city of Bydgoszcz, and moved to the UK with her then-husband Pawel Chmielecki in 2017.

The couple settled in Kettering, close to Marta’s brother, his wife and their family. After she and Chmielecki separated in 2020, Marta stayed in the town where she had built a life for herself.

With a wide circle of friends both in the UK and in Poland, Marta was sociable, liked music, dressing smartly, going to the gym to keep fit and enjoyed looking after herself.

In October 2021, the 31-year-old’s mother was visiting her from Poland, and she was excitedly planning a festive trip home to see her father.

Tragically that trip never happened, because after meeting her in the street on October 15, Chmielecki violently murdered Marta in his rented room.

Following Chmielecki’s sentencing today, her grieving family have released the following tribute to her via Northamptonshire Police.

“Marta was exceptional. She was full of life, kind, cheerful, helpful and smart. You never had to ask for her help, she was always just there for us, whatever we needed.

“She loved our children and was a fantastic aunty to them both. Marta was definitely a daddy’s girl too, they had such a strong bond and loving relationship.

“After her death, her father began stuttering and now finds it very hard to communicate. He has really suffered, we all have.

“Marta had so many plans and dreams. She was independent and confident. We all loved her so much.

“It is never going to be the same without her. Losing Marta has changed our whole lives.

“He has taken Marta away from so many people who loved her. She loved our children and he took her away from them, from them having a relationship with her.

“He deprived them of their aunty. He deprived us of our sister. He deprived our parents of their child.

“Our elder daughter knows Marta is with the angels, but our youngest doesn’t remember her because she was only one when she died.

“We were a really close family – we don’t have any other family here, we only had Marta. So, we would mark every celebration together – Christmas, birthdays, everything.

“Things are just completely different now. It’s hard to describe.

“When Marta died, something beyond her died as well and none of us will ever be the same.”