Havant murder trial: Woman smothered to death by 'very sticky' tape that left nostrils 'almost flattened'
A woman was smothered to death by “very sticky” tape wrapped around her face so “tightly” her nostrils were “almost flattened”, a court heard.
Polish native Norbert Maiksner, 48, is accused of murdering his former girlfriend Frances Obiefuleh, 45, at their home in Timsbury Crescent, Havant. She was found dead with two fractured ribs and multiple abrasions across her face, neck and chest suggesting a desperate struggle took place before she died.
The 10-stone victim’s body was found by police on April 17 last year when officers smashed a window to gain entrance after the defendant told a Highways Officer of the killing on the hard shoulder of the M40 motorway near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, the trial has heard.
Maiksner, who also faces a charge of child cruelty after leaving a child alone in the house, has declined to attend his trial at Portsmouth Crown Court. Not guilty pleas have been entered on his behalf by judge, Mr Justice Murray.
Pathologist Russell Delaney, giving evidence, said Ms Obiefuleh’s death was due to “smothering with an element of neck and/or chest compressions”.
He said of the cause of death: “Smothering (with) external compression or obstruction of the airway by the tape applied to the face. The tape passed around the neck and therefore may have compressed the neck at the sides where it was tightly applied.
“The intense congestion below the tape and external injuries to the neck and upper chest and rib fractures likely reflect additional elements of neck and/or chest compression perhaps during the incident in which tape was applied to the face.”
Dr Delany said the blue tape was wrapped around Ms Obiefuleh’s head from her eyelids down over nose to her chin and was wrapped around the back of her head while partly covering her ears. He said the tape was “very sticky” and was “tightly applied” to such an extent that he had to cut it off for post mortem.
He said: “Her nose was compressed and nostrils almost flattened and her lips swollen. There was blood around her mouth and cheeks. The right lower eyelid was compressed and the left one was to a lesser extent.”
The pathologist told jurors the two rib fractures to the victim were consistent with when “force is applied to the chest” and could have happened when the tape was being applied. He added: “I’m satisfied she was alive when the tape was applied.”
Dr Delaney said abrasions Maiksner had to his chest and back could have been caused by fingers and fingernails of 5ft 5in Ms Obiefuleh as she fought for her life. When police found her body, she was wearing blue striped pyjamas that were back to front and had a black T-shirt on with a head covering or scarf.
(Proceeding)