By Adebisi Onanuga
The ongoing trial of a Danish, Peter Nielsen, accused of killing his wife, Zainab and daughter, Petra, before an Igbosere High Court, Lagos was stalled due to the absence of his lead counsel, Mr Olasupo Shasore (SAN) on health ground.
Justice Bolanle Okikiolu-Ighilehe had set Friday for Nielsen to open his defence in the matter.
During resumed proceedings, a counsel from the defence team, Mr Mofiyinfoluwa Enitan, informed the court that Shasore was ill and that the team cannot not open their defence.
Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey closed their case against Nielson on September 20.
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 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 Shashore (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 disruption of proceedings particularly as the case was the only one on the list for yesterday.
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“The court has been disrupted today because of this matter, this is the only matter that was slated for today,” she said.
Justice Okikiolu- Ighile, adjourned the case to December 6, for the defence to open its case.
She further ordered the continued remand of 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 night gown, 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 DNA of an unknown female in the kitchen.
Dr Somiari disagreed with the defence that the crime scene investigation and forensic DNA analysis was deliberately aimed at gathering evidence and arriving at results showing that the defendant was guilty of the murder.
He 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.
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.
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 3:45am 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.