Alleged double murder: Danish murder suspect’s trial stalled over absence of his lawyer

The ongoing trial of a Danish man, Peter Nielsen, accused of
killing his wife and daughter, before a Lagos High Court sitting in
Igbosere, was stalled due to the inability of his lead counsel, Mr
Olasupo Shasore SAN on health ground.

The case was scheduled for the defence to open it’s the case
yesterday, but when the matter was called, the court was informed
that Shasore the lead counsel to the defendant, was ill and as such
the defence can’t open it’s the case.

Nielsen, 54, is standing trial for the April 5, 2018 death of
his Nigerian singer wife, Zainab and their
three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Petra.

The Lagos State Government accused the Dane of smothering Zainab
and Petra to death at about 3:45 am at No. 4, Flat 17, Bella Vista
Tower, Banana Island Ikoyi.

Nielsen was arraigned on June 13, 2018, on two counts of murder
contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
He denied the charge.

Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry
of Justice Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey closed the government’s case on
September 20. Justice Bolanle Okikiolu-Ighile fixed October 25 for
the continuation of trial.

At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, the trial could
not go on, as a counsel from the defence team, Mr. Mofiyinfoluwa
Enitan, told Justice Okikiolu-Ighile that the SAN, was ill and he
could not make it to the court.

Enitan also informed the court that their first witness Mr.
Akeem Sanusi, was in court and that they were ready to open their
case, until Shasore SAN, took ill.

He apologised on the lead counsel’s behalf and also told the
court that they had contacted the prosecution team, about the
development.

Enitan said, ” I humbly apologise on behalf of the lead counsel
Mr. Olasupo Shape SAN, he is sick and could not make it to court
this morning, he is having health issues and our witness Akeem
Sanusi is in the court”.

” We contacted the prosecution team this morning that the
learned silk fell ill,” He said.

However, Justice Okikiolu-Ighile, was displeased over the
distruption of the court, as the case was the only one on the list
for the day’s business.

The Judge said, ” The court has been disrupted today because of
this matter, this is the only matter that was slated for
today”.

Consequently, Justice Okikiolu- Ighile, adjourned the case to
December 6, for the defence to open its case.

She further remanded the defendant in prison.

On the last adjourned date, the defence counsel, Mr. Olasupo
Shasore SAN had cross-examined the prosecution’s ninth and last
witness Dr. Idem Richard Somiari.

Dr. Somiari had stated that the defendant’s DNA was found in the
apartment and on Zainab’s nightgown, but neither on the body of his
deceased daughter nor in the kitchen where the bodies were
discovered.

The expert also stated that he found the DNA of an unknown
female in the kitchen.

When confronted that the crime scene investigation and forensic
DNA analysis were deliberately aimed at gathering evidence and
arriving at results showing that the Defendant was guilty of the
murder, Dr. Somiari denied it.

Somiari stated that the forensic DNA team took steps to prevent
contamination of the crime scene by putting on gloves, shoe covers,
and disposable laboratory coats.

But when he was later shown photographs from his visit to the
crime scene, he admitted that some members of the DNA team did not
put on the protective gear.

Dr. Somiari was also unable to account for the number of people
that had access to the crime scene in the period between the
discovery of the bodies and the examination of the crime scene by
forensic experts.

The prosecution witness also informed the court that samples for
DNA analysis were only taken from three occupants of the apartment;
the defendant and the two deceased persons even though six people
lived in the apartment at the time of the murder.

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