Embattled Danish national Peter Nielsen has told the Lagos State High Court that he woke up to find his Nigerian wife and singer, Zainab Alizee and their three-year-old daughter, Petra, dead.
Nielsen who made the statement during his cross-examination by the prosecution counsel for the Lagos State Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Adebayo Haroun, on Tuesday said that he did not immediately realise his wife and daughter had died when he found them lying on the ground in their apartment.
He told the court that when he woke up around 2:30 am on April 5, 2018, he got snacks and drinks for his wife and daughter before going back to sleep, adding that he did not perceive the “smell of gas” in their room at that time.
According to Nielsen, he woke up in the morning and did not see his wife on their bed, he went to search for her. He said when he later saw his wife and daughter in their kitchen, believing they were unconscious, he took her to the living room and asked one of those 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,” the defendant testified when asked if he knew Zainab and Petra were dead before a doctor arrived.”
The accused however pleaded not guilty to the two counts of murder leveled against him by the Lagos State Government which contravenes Section 223 of the 2015 Criminal Law of Lagos State.
During court proceedings, it was learnt that the defendant was also asked to confirm some evidence given to the court by their housekeeper, one Evelyn, the second prosecution witness.
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However, the case was later adjourned until January 11, 2022, for the continuation of hearing by Justice Bolanle Okikiolu-Ighile, after the prosecutor prayed the court for an adjournment of the case.
Peter Nielsen is accused of murdering his wife Zainab Alizee and their daughter Petra at their home located at 4, Flat 17, Bella Vista Tower, Banana Island Ikoyi, on April 5, 2018.
During the last court sitting staged on October 26, 2021, Peter Nielsen also said that he did not kill his wife.
“I did not kill my wife and our daughter, Petra, we had a fantastic relationship,” he said.
“Her dedication and perseverance to hard work drew me closer to her and she worked hard to achieve her dreams,” the defendant said.
Nielsen said before he got very close to Zainab, he informed her that he was married in Denmark with two adult children.
“When Zainab became pregnant, her mother (Pastor Ruth Genesis) persuaded me to marry her so she would not have a child outside wedlock,” he told the court.
“I told her I would marry Zainab because of the love I have for her, not because of pregnancy.
“On June 21, 2014, we got married at the Ikoyi registry,” Nielsen said.
