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A’Court upholds death penalty passed on Dane who killed Nigerian wife, daughter

Published

2 months ago

July 22, 2024

A’Court upholds death penalty passed on Dane who killed Nigerian wife, daughter

The Appeal Court Lagos Division has affirmed the death penalty handed to Denmark national, Peter Nielsen, for killing his Nigerian wife, Zainab and daughter, Petra Nielsen.

The appellate court dismissed Nielsen’s appeal for lack of merit and upheld his conviction by the trial court.

During court proceedings on Friday, Mr Adebayo Haroun, leading Jubril Kareem, announced his appearance for the respondent, while Mr A.D Taiwo Nsirim with Tochukwu Amaefule, appeared for the appellant.

Delivering the judgment, the appeal court held that the respondent (Lagos State) proved the offence of murder against the appellant beyond reasonable doubt.

It resolved the appeal in favour of the respondent and dismissed the appellant’s case.

The appellate court held, “The corroborative evidence of DNA also strengthened the circumstantial evidence against the appellant.

“There was no proof of breaking into the apartment as suggested by the appellant.

“The missing exhibits as a result of the #EndSARS attack on the court do not affect the defence of the appellant as he had ample opportunity before the attack on the court. The findings of the forensic examiner corroborate the evidence of the children.”

Nielsen was found guilty and convicted of the murder of Zainab and Petra, by Justice Bolanle Okikiolu-Ighile,(retd.), of the Lagos State High Court, at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

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Okikiolu-Ighile, in her judgment delivered on May 20, 2022, held that Nielsen smothered Zainab and Petra Nielsen to death.

She ruled, “He was the one who killed Zainab, and Petra Nielsen. Zainab had already predicted her death when she told their driver that this man would kill her. She told her stepfather, Chris Madaki, when she went to Abuja that this man would kill her.”

The judge also held that the evidence of the sixth prosecution witness (PW6) that on April 5, 2018, at 4:10 am, she saw Peter Nielsen beating and hitting Zainab’s head on the floor collaborated with the oral evidence of Prof John Obafunwa (PW4).

She held that Prosecution Witnesses (PW5 and PW6) testified that they heard Zainab calling Mimi (one of the girls living with the couple) for help and they heard Zainab telling Nielsen to check her phone but he kept hitting her head.

“The act of Nielsen shows that he suffocated his wife and daughter.

“Nielsen has always domestically abused his wife which was shown in the police extract from the Ikoyi Police Station.

“She didn’t know that her marriage to the convict was void abi nitio because Peter was already married in Denmark.

However, on the issue of the nightgown worn by Zainab on the night she died, the judge expunged the evidence.

She said that the pathologist who analysed the DNA on the nightgown was thoroughly examined and cross-examined by the defence.

The judge, however, said that on October 20, 2020, the High Court of Lagos was vandalised and burnt, during the #EndSARS protest which affected the nightgown, a jumpsuit, towel and pants worn by Zainab and Petra.

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The judge, however, said that the contention of the convict was not for cross-examination but for them to take the items for DNA examination for their case.

“It is trite law that all documentary evidence must be scrutinised but the defence argued that the convict didn’t have the opportunity to produce his examination.

“The defence made an application to expunge such items from the evidence.

“I have considered the application, exhibits, PWN (Zainab’s nightgown, Petra’s jumpsuit, towel and pants) is hereby expunged,” she said.

But dissatisfied with the judgment Nielsen approached the appeal court to challenge his conviction.

Nielsen was arraigned on June 13, 2018, on two counts of murder.

He pleaded not guilty, to the two counts of murder contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, following which trial commenced.

The Lagos State Government accused Nielsen, now 57, of smothering Zainab and their daughter Petra Nielsen, to death at about 3:45 am, on April 5, 2018, at No. 4, Flat 17, Bella Vista Tower, Banana Island, Ikoyi.

When the trial commenced, the prosecution called nine witnesses and closed their case on September 20, 2019.

The defence opened its case and also called nine witnesses with the convict as the ninth witness.

A’Court upholds death penalty passed on Dane who killed Nigerian wife, daughter

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Banditry outcome of people neglected for centuries — Gumi

Published

10 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Trends Admin

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a renowned Islamic Scholar in Kaduna State

Banditry outcome of people neglected for centuries — Gumi

Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has dismissed allegations that politicians are behind the rising insecurity in northern Nigeria.

In recent months, the North-West region has faced increasing banditry and violence, leading to the deaths of many, including the monarch of Gobir in Sokoto State. The unrest has sparked claims that politicians may be funding the violence for their own gain.

In 2021, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, alleged that some politicians were sponsoring the banditry seen across the country. However, in an interview with Punch, Sheikh Gumi denied these claims, stating that there is no evidence to suggest that politicians are fueling the unrest in the North.

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He said;

“This is an unintelligent allegation. No politician is sponsoring these people. We are all victims. The opposition is not even behind this. This is a natural reaction of people neglected for centuries without education.

“Now they are exposed to the world and they want education. These people are exposed to the Internet and they see how much they are deprived. They want to fight back. This act is not by anybody.”

Banditry outcome of people neglected for centuries — Gumi

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152 terrorists killed, 109 arrested in 1 week – DHQ

Published

11 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Trends Admin

Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba

152 terrorists killed, 109 arrested in 1 week – DHQ

The Defence Headquarters Friday said troops during the week killed a total of 152 terrorists and arrested 109.

The military high command also stated that the strongholds of two notorious terrorist leaders — the Sadiku enclave at Tsora Hill in Safana Local Government Area, Katsina State; and the Yusuf enclave in Yadi Forest, Giwa LG, Kaduna State, were destroyed.

The Director of Media Operations, Edward Buba, in a statement, said the troops’ achievements were an indication that the military was steadily progressing towards the goal of destroying all criminal elements.

“The war against terrorists, insurgents, violent extremists and others perpetrating insecurity in the country rages, and troops are sustaining the momentum to achieve victory. Indeed, the armed forces are steadily progressing towards the goal of destruction of all these elements.

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“Given recent events, the military learns every day and makes improvements on ways to better deal with threat situations posed by these terror groups. Troops are moving in against the terrorists and denying them freedom of action.

“During the week, troops carried out surgical operations against two prominent terrorist commanders and decimated their strongholds, namely, Sadiku enclave in Tsora Hill in Safana LGA of Katsina State and Alhaji Yusuf enclave in Yadi Forest in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State.”

“Overall, troops operations during the week resulted in 152 terrorists neutralised, 109 arrested and 91 hostages rescued,” Buba said.

He noted that during the operations against crude oil theft, products worth N795 million were recovered.

Buba urged the citizens to support the troops to win the war against insecurity in the country.

152 terrorists killed, 109 arrested in 1 week – DHQ

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Six kidnappers arrested in Delta, N2.3m ransom recovered

Published

14 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Trends Admin

Commissioner of Police, Delta State CP Olufemi Abaniwonda

Six kidnappers arrested in Delta, N2.3m ransom recovered

Six persons have been apprehended in Delta State over their alleged involvement in kidnapping.

The suspects were arrested in Uvwie Local Government Area of the State by police operatives from Ebrumede Division.

They also recovered from them a ransom of N2,344,000 (Two million, three hundred and forty-four thousand naira), with some stolen mobile phones.

Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda announced the development while briefing journalists in Asaba.

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CP Abaniwonda said, “Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of Ebrumede division while on patrol duty intercepted a tricycle conveying six-passengers.

“The suspects on sighting the Police attempted to escape but the operatives chased and arrested them.

“Upon search of the suspects, two million, three hundred and forty-four thousand naira was recovered.

“Some suspected stolen phones were also recovered. Further investigation revealed that the phone belonged to their kidnapped victims and the money was part of the ransom the victims paid for their freedom.”