Frances Obiefuleh murder trial: Defendant said 'sorry' to former partner the night before he was arrested

Norbert Maiksner, 49 of Timbury Crescent, Havant, has been charged with the murder of 45-year-old Frances Obiafule at an address in the same town, as well as one count of child cruelty.

Ms Obiafule was found dead in her home on April 17 last year, with Maiksner being arrested that same day.

At Portsmouth Crown Court this morning (Tuesday, March 24) the jury was told that Maiksner also visited his former partner, Luiza Pimentel, in the middle of the night before his arrest, telling her he was “sorry” and to “say hi” to their daughter.

The two had been dating for more than 12 years and had a child together, but separated in 2022. Maiksner continued travelling to Wembley every other weekend for visitation.

Assisted by an interpreter, Ms Pimentel said: “The doorbell rang - I went to see who it was and it was Norbert. I saw him with a scratch on his face. It looked fresh because it was bleeding a little bit.

“I said he was lucky that I had opened the door at this time, and asked if he was okay. He said to me, ‘one day I’m going to tell you’. I asked again and he said, ‘I’m sorry. Say hi to our daughter’.

“Then he left, he was in a rush. I went to the balcony [of my flat] and he was running.”

Earlier in the evening, doorbell camera footage showed Maiksner entering Ms Obiafule’s home with some bags. He left three bags at Ms Pimentel’s home that same night.

She told the court that one bag had some clothes, another had a drill, and the third bag had a laptop and an iPhone inside. The phone was switched on, Ms Pimentel added, and had messages on it.

She explained how Maiksner had two phones, because he did not want his boss to contact him. The iPhone had previously been promised to their daughter.

On April 17 last year, Maiksner was found walking along the M40 near High Wycombe by a traffic officer. He told the officer he had killed his girlfriend, was later arrested by police and Ms Obiafule’s body was found at her Havant home.

That same day, Ms Pimentel flew out to her native Portugal, but later spoke to police via her doorbell camera.

She said: “They [police] told me Norbert said he had murdered someone. I was just shocked.”

(Proceeding)