Swiss prosecutors have formally charged a man with the February 2024 killing of his wife, Kristina Joksimovic, a former Miss Switzerland finalist, after concluding that the crime was deliberate, meticulously carried out, and marked by extreme brutality. The case, which has shocked Switzerland, relates to events that took place in the town of Binningen, near Basel.
According to investigators, the accused, identified as Thomas, murdered his 38-year-old wife in their home in a manner prosecutors have described as calculated and devoid of remorse. Joksimovic, who was once a prominent figure in Switzerland’s beauty pageant circuit, was allegedly strangled to death before her body was systematically dismembered.
Court documents and prosecutorial filings reveal disturbing details about the crime. After killing her, the accused is said to have used tools including a jigsaw, knives, and garden shears to cut her body apart. Prosecutors allege that he removed her limbs, separated joints, severed her spine to decapitate her, and carried out the dismemberment with precision. An autopsy report described the violence inflicted as extreme, noting forced separation of joints and the methodical nature of the dissection.
Investigators further allege that Thomas removed Joksimovic’s womb — reportedly the only organ cut from her torso — and processed parts of her body using an industrial blender. According to reports cited by prosecutors, he was allegedly watching YouTube videos on his mobile phone while carrying out these acts, a detail that authorities say underscores his chilling lack of empathy and emotional detachment.
The crime came to light after Joksimovic’s father made a horrifying discovery. He noticed strands of blonde hair protruding from a black bag in a laundry room, prompting police intervention. A subsequent search led officers to uncover human remains, including bone fragments and pieces of skin still attached to muscle tissue, confirming that Joksimovic had been brutally dismembered.
In the immediate aftermath, Thomas reportedly told police that he had discovered his wife already dead. Several weeks later, however, he admitted to killing her, claiming that he acted in self-defence after she allegedly attacked him with a knife. Forensic experts and investigators rejected this version of events, stating that there was no evidence to support a self-defence claim and confirming that the cause of death was strangulation.
Prosecutors have characterised the accused as exhibiting an “exceptionally high level of criminal energy” and an alarming absence of remorse. On Wednesday, following the completion of the investigation, the Basel-Landschaft Public Prosecutor’s Office formally charged Thomas with murder. Authorities have not yet announced a trial date.
Kristina Joksimovic leaves behind two children. She had been crowned Miss Northwest Switzerland and reached the finals of the Miss Switzerland competition in 2007. After stepping away from pageantry, she built a respected career as a catwalk coach, mentoring young models and guiding several aspiring contestants, including future Miss Universe participant Dominique Rinderknecht.
