Miss Switzerland finalist strangled, turned into 'puree' by husband
Kristina Joksimovic, a former Miss Switzerland finalist, was brutally murdered and dismembered by her husband in their home in Binningen, near Basel. The 38-year-old's remains were found on February 13. Her 41-year-old husband, identified as "Thomas" in local reports, was arrested shortly after. He confessed to the crime but claimed it was an act of self-defense following a knife attack by his wife. However, medical experts found no evidence supporting his claim and determined strangulation as the cause of death.
Court rejects husband's appeal, reveals chilling details
Thomas's appeal for release was rejected by Switzerland's federal court in Lausanne after he confessed to the murder. The ruling brought forth disturbing new details about the crime and suggested "concrete indications of a mental illness" in Thomas. According to an autopsy report, Joksimovic's body was dismembered using a jigsaw, knife, and garden shears. Some body parts were then chopped up with a hand blender, "pureed" and dissolved in a chemical solution.
Prosecutors describe husband's behavior after murder
Prosecutors described Thomas's behavior following the murder as showing "a noticeably high level of criminal energy, lack of empathy and cold-bloodedness." A former partner alleged that he once grabbed Joksimovic by the neck and slammed her head into a wall. Despite these disturbing revelations, the couple appeared to be a picture-perfect family on social media with posts of their vacations together just weeks before Joksimovic's death.
Joksimovic's successful career and personal life
Joksimovic was crowned Miss Northwest Switzerland and was a finalist for Miss Switzerland in 2007. She later established her own business as a catwalk coach, mentoring model Dominique Rinderknecht for the Miss Universe pageant in 2013. The couple had two daughters together and lived in a large home overlooking Basel.
