The Lagos State Government has accused the defendant of smothering his Nigerian wife and singer, Zainab, and their three-year-old daughter, Petra, to death on April 5, 2018, at their residence on Banana Island, Ikoyi. Nielsen was arraigned on June 13, 2018. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the two counts of murder which contravene Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
During his cross-examined by the prosecution counsel for the Lagos State Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Adebayo Haroun, on Tuesday, Nielsen 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 him, when he woke up in the morning and did not see his wife on their bed, he went to search for her. He said he later saw his wife and daughter in their kitchen, and believing they were unconscious, he took the wife 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.
It was learnt that the defendant was also asked to confirm some evidence given to the court by their housekeeper, one Evelyn. The defendant confirmed what Evelyn had given in evidence, he however, disclosed that the housekeeper used to enter the kitchen through the back door or front door, depending on what she had to do.
The prosecutor prayed the court for an adjournment of the case, saying he got a call that required him to attend to a personal matter.
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