A 53-year-old Italian Peter Nielsen, who allegedly murdered his Nigerian wife and singer, Zainab Ali-Nielsen, and their four-year-old daughter, Petra, at their home at Banana Island, Ikoyi Lagos, was on Wednesday remanded in Ikoyi Prisons on the orders of a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
The Magistrate, Mrs K.B. Ayeye, who gave the ruling, said the accused should be reminded pending counsel from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Nielsen, a Danish citizen, who is being tried on a two-count charge bordering on murder, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.
However, CSP Effiong Asuquo, the prosecutor, informed the court that the accused committed the offences on April 5, at his residence at Block 4, Flat 17, Bella Vista Tower, Banana Island, Ikoyi.
Asuquo alleged that the accused murdered his wife, Zainab, 37, and her daughter, Petra, in the house.
“The accused who was always at loggerheads with his wife had hit her head on the wall several times leading to her death; he also proceeded to poison his daughter."
“He had dragged their lifeless bodies under the gas to create the impression that they suffocated to death as a result of a gas leakage,” he said.""
The offences contravened Sections 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 which prescribes death sentence for offenders.
The case has been adjourned until May 8 pending advice from the DPP.
