A Danish man, Peter Nielsen, was today sentenced to death by hanging by a Lagos High Court for killing his Nigerian wife and daughter.
Justice Bolanle Okikiolu-Ighile convicted Nielsen, 54, on two counts of murder brought against him by the Lagos State Government.
The judge sentenced Nielsen to death by hanging on both counts.
The Dane was charged with the death of his wife and singer, Zainab, and their three-year-old daughter, Petra.
Lagos State Government accused him of smothering Zainab and Petra to death at 3.45 a.m. on April 4, 2018 at No. 4, Flat 17, Bella Vista Tower, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos State.
Nielsen was arraigned on June 13, 2018.
He pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of murder contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Five people were said to be in the apartment on the night of the incident: Nielsen, Zainab, Petra, Gift, and Favour Madaki, both of whom are Zainab’s step-sisters.
Nielsen had told the court that he had a good time with his household the night before the death of his wife and daughter.
He told the court that, on April 4, 2018, his family members watched television together.
“There was a football match that evening; my wife knew it was a very important match to me, and to my surprise, she watched it with me.
“Around 9:45 p.m., the children went to their room, my wife and I continued watching highlights from the game. It was a very joyful moment.
“Around 11 p.m., we took our bath together, went to our bedroom and we were intimate.
“Around 2:30 a.m., we were woken by our daughter, Petra, who entered our room and said she wanted to watch cartoon on iPad,” Nielsen said.
He said his wife took Petra to their sitting room to watch the cartoon on television.
The defendant said he went to the kitchen and got some juice and snacks for Petra.
He told the court that his wife said she would warm some food for Petra later.
Nielsen said, “I kissed my wife and daughter and went back to sleep about 2:35 a.m.
“I woke up around 7:30 a.m. and noticed that my wife was not in the bedroom; so I went to look for her.”
The defendant said he entered their sitting room and found their maid and other girls standing.
Nielsen said he asked them about his wife but they said they didn’t know her whereabouts.
He said he searched for his wife and saw her lying lifeless with their daughter on the kitchen floor.
Nielsen said there was a strong smell of gas when he opened the kitchen door.
He said he tried to resuscitate his wife and daughter but when he realised that they were dead he called his wife’s stepfather and told him and his wife to come to Lagos.
He said that policemen arrived at the scene before noon and asked him to call his family doctor.
“The doctor eventually came and, after, certified the two bodies dead,” he said.
The Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, however, said the forensic investigation into the matter revealed overwhelming and compelling evidence to the effect that the suspect killed his wife and daughter.
“There is overwhelming and compelling evidence both forensic and direct eyewitness account showing without a doubt that the victims were killed by the suspect. There is also evidence that there was a history of domestic violence against the victim by the suspect,” Kazeem said.
