Millionaire dad ‘throttled’ daughter
A WEALTHY antiques dealer strangled his seven-year-old daughter to death with a dressing gown cord at their £1million (AUD 1.7million) home, a British court heard today.
Robert Peters, 55, is accused of wrapping the cord around Sophia's neck, leaving her critically injured in Raynes Park, South West London, at around 8am on November 3, The Sun reports.
Mr Peters was arrested and charged with attempted murder as doctors battled to save his daughter's life in hospital.
The charge is set to be upgraded to murder after Sophia died on the morning of November 4, the court heard today.
She can be named and pictured for the first time today after the judge lifted reporting restrictions.
"The defendant began to make preparations for the killing by taking the dressing gown cord which was later found tied around Sophia's neck," Prosecutor Deanna Heer said.
A Jaguar is parked in the driveway of the house in Wimbledon where Sophia was found on Friday.
Mr Peters, who has been married three times, runs an antiques business with his twin brother Richard in Kensington. He did not appear in court for the brief administrative hearing.
He had recently moved to the large detached home near Wimbledon with Sophia's Thai-born mum Kittiya Promsat.
It is understood Kittiya was not at home at the time her daughter died.
She later posted a tribute on Facebook, saying: "I love you a lot and love you for ever sweetheart."
Mr Peters, said to have business assets of £1.3million (AUD2.2 million), was remanded in custody until his next appearance at the Old Bailey on November 10.
