Lagos high court sentences Dane Peter Nielsen to death for killing his Nigerian wife and daughter

DANISH national Peter Nielsen has been sentenced to death by hanging by a Lagos high court after being found guilty of killing his Nigerian wife and three-year old daughter at their flat in Ikoyi in 2018.

Mr Nielsen, 54, had been charged with the death of his wife, the  singer, Zainab and their three-year-old daughter, Petra. Lagos State government accused him of smothering Zainab and Petra to death at 3.45am at Flat 17, number four,  Bella Vista Tower, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

Mr Nielsen was originally 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 when the charge was read out to him.

After a lengthy trial, however, the court delivered its verdict today, with Justice Bolanle Okikiolu-Ighile convicting Mr Nielsen on two counts of murder brought against him by the Lagos State government. After finding him guilty, the judge sentenced Mr Nielsen to death by hanging on both counts.