A Lagos State High Court on Friday sentenced a Danish Peter Nielsen to death by hanging for killing his Nigerian wife Zainab, and their three-year-old daughter, Petra.
Justice Bolanle Okikiolu-Ighile convicted Nielsen, 54, on two counts of murder brought against him by Lagos State Government. The judge sentenced Nielsen to death by hanging on both counts.
The government said he smothered Zainab, a singer known as Alizee, and Petra to death on April 5, 2018 at their Banana Island house in Ikoyi area of Lagos.
At the time of her death, Alizee had posted 44 videos on her YouTube page to over 400 subscribers. During her lifetime, she collaborated with Harrysong, Del B among others.
Her husband Nielsen was arraigned on June 13, 2018. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In February 2019, a police inspector and seventh prosecution witness, Babashola Afolayan, told the court that on July 18, 2017 Zainab reported at the Ikoyi Police Station at 2am to file a complaint of assault against Nielsen who she said beat her up around 1am on the same day. She also accused him of using drugs.
However, in December 2021 while being cross-examined, Nielsen told the court that when he woke up at 2:30 a.m. on April 5, 2018, he got snacks and drinks for his wife and daughter before going back to sleep.
The Dane said he did not perceive any smell of gas in their room at that time.
He further said that when he woke up in the morning and did not see his wife on their bed, he went in search of her.
Nielsen said that when he saw his wife and daughter in their kitchen, he dragged his wife to the living room and asked one of the girls living with them to carry his daughter.
“I covered my wife and daughter with blankets after I tried to resuscitate them but realised that they had died,” he answered when asked if he already pronounced Zainab and Petra dead before a doctor arrived.
