Motorway Confession After Tape Murder of Ex-Girlfriend
In a chilling case of domestic violence, a man confessed to killing his ex-girlfriend on the side of a motorway after smothering her to death with blue tape. Norbert Maiksner, 49, murdered Frances Obiefuleh, 45, in her home in Havant, Hampshire, on April 16 last year, just one day after their relationship ended.
Bodycam Footage Captures Confession
Police bodycam footage captured the moment Maiksner was found walking along a slip road of the M40 near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, the day after the murder. He told a traffic officer: 'You will need to call the police - I've killed my girlfriend.' This confession led officers to search Ms Obiefuleh's property, where they discovered her body with blue tape wrapped around her face and head.
Footage showed police entering her home through a window and finding her body on the floor. A post-mortem examination concluded that Ms Obiefuleh's cause of death was smothering, with an element of neck and/or chest compression. Doorbell camera footage revealed Maiksner entering her home on the night of April 16, and a neighbour reported hearing 'four consecutive bangs' around 15 minutes later.
Trial and Sentencing Details
Maiksner was arrested and later told police that he was 'the devil' and that he 'didn't deserve to live'. Following a two-week trial at Portsmouth Crown Court, he was found guilty of murder and neglect of a child. Yesterday, he was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 24 years to be served.
During the trial, it emerged that Maiksner had declined legal representation in police interviews, remained silent when questioned, and at one point 'nodded off'. A not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf as he refused to engage with the proceedings. He stated that killing Ms Obiefuleh felt like a dream and that he wanted to wake up.
Family Tributes and Police Statements
The family of Frances Obiefuleh paid tribute to her in a statement released by police, describing her as kind, intelligent, and resourceful, as well as a caring and deeply loving mother, sister, aunt, and friend. They said: 'She was a devoted mother and beautiful in every sense of the word. Someone we love has been cruelly taken from us, and it has changed our lives forever.'
Detective Sergeant Heather Kenwright from the Western Major Crime Team commented: 'I am glad to see Maiksner face a life behind bars for committing the most heinous and evil of acts. He has caused such unthinkable suffering to both Frances in the last moments of her life, and to her family.' She emphasised that Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary is committed to helping victims of domestic violence.
Jane Rahman of the Crown Prosecution Service added: 'Frances Obiefuleh's life was taken in the place she should have felt safest – her own home. A family has now been left heartbroken following a senseless act of violence at the hands of her ex-partner.' She noted that prosecutors worked with police to provide a clear timeline of events for the jury.
This case highlights the tragic reality of domestic homicide, with authorities urging anyone affected by similar incidents to come forward and report them to ensure justice is served.
