Norwegian police have solved a murder case from three decades ago, but cannot charge the killer because the statute of limitations has expired, officials said today.

A 42-year-old man recently confessed to the deadly stabbing of Inger Johanne Apenes, 61, after breaking into her home in the southern town of Fredrikstad in 1978, police spokesman Geir Kristiansen said.

"We have looked into his statement, and we are confident that this is the actual killer," Kristiansen said, adding the man provided details of the crime "that only the perpetrator could have known".