Man jailed for life for ‘heinous and evil’ murder of girlfriend

A 49-year-old man has been jailed for life to serve a minimum of 24 years for the murder of his girlfriend who he suffocated by wrapping tape around her face.

Norbert Maiksner, who is Polish, was convicted following a trial at Portsmouth Crown Court of the murder of 45-year-old Frances Obiefuleh at their home in Havant, Hampshire, as well as a charge of child neglect.

Paul Cavin KC, prosecuting, told the trial that the defendant was found by a Highways Officer walking along the hard shoulder of the M40 motorway near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, on the morning of April 17 2025.

Maiksner told the officer that they should call the police because he had killed his girlfriend.

Mr Cavin said that a post-mortem examination revealed that Ms Obiefuleh died of smothering with injuries caused by compression of the neck and chest.

Mr Cavin said that the defendant also had scratches to his chest and back, and added: “The likely and frankly terrible conclusion is that they were inflicted by Frances with her fingers and fingernails during the attack by the defendant in her last moments as she struggled to stay alive.”

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said that Maiksner had not attended the trial and it had gone ahead in his absence.

The force spokesman said: “During his trial the court heard that Maiksner had told officers that he had killed Frances and stated that it was all a dream and that he wanted to wake up.”

Detective Sergeant Heather Kenwright said: “I am glad to see Maiksner face a life behind bars for committing the most heinous and evil of acts, it is what he deserves for taking the life of an innocent woman.

“He has caused such unthinkable suffering to both Frances in the last moments of her life, and to her family, who have had their loved one taken from them so brutally and must now try to rebuild their lives without her.

“My thoughts remain with Frances’s family, and whilst no sentence can ever truly bring them justice for the tragic loss of Frances’s life, I hope it brings them some semblance of closure to know that Maiksner is now facing the consequences of his abhorrent actions.”

Paying tribute to Ms Obiefuleh, her family said in a statement released through police: “Frances was kind, intelligent, and resourceful – a caring and deeply loving mother, sister, aunt, and friend to many.

“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.

“We have lost a truly beautiful soul.

“Her bright light has been cruelly dimmed, and we are left shaken, heartbroken, and still trying to process the grief and shock of losing Frances.”