Man ‘walking on M40’ guilty of murdering partner with tape

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, and a charge of child neglect. Paul Cavin KC, prosecuting, told the court that the defendant was found by a Highways Officer walking along the hard shoulder of the M40 motorway near High Wycombe, on the morning of April 17 2025. He told the officer that they should call the police because he had killed his girlfriend.

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

Maiksner will be sentenced on March 30.