A millionaire antiques dealer has admitted strangling his seven-year-old daughter to death at his £1m home near Wimbledon.
Robert Peters, a Chinese porcelain expert, wrapped the cord of a dressing gown around Sophia’s neck on November 3 last year.
Peters was arrested and initially charged with attempted murder as doctors battled to save his daughter’s life in hospital.
Robert Peters, 55, throttled daughter Sophia at the house in Wimbledon on November 3 last year, leaving her lying severely injured on a bedroom floor. She was rushed to hospital but died the following day
Wealthy antiques dealer Robert Peters (pictured) has admitted at the Old Bailey that he strangled his seven-year-old daughter Sophia at his home in Wimbledon
Peters had recently moved to his home with Sophia’s Thai mother Kittiya (pictured together)
The 55-year-old called police himself and admitted he had killed Sophia.
A charge of attempted murder against him was upgraded to murder at the Old Bailey when Sophia died in hospital the following day.
Peters today appeared before Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC for a plea hearing at the Old Bailey.
Peters, who appeared in the dock wearing a grey prison issue tracksuit, denied murder but pleaded guilty to Sophia’s manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
Prosecutor Deanna Heer said the plea was not accepted and there will be a trial at the Old Bailey from April 23.
Robert Peters, 55, allegedly attacked Sophia while they were alone at the £1 million family home in Wimbledon, south-west London, (pictured) on November 3 last year
The trial is expected to go on for up to two weeks.
A further case management hearing was set for March 28.
The balding defendant was remanded into custody.
Peters, who has been married three times, runs an antiques firm with his brother in Kensington, West London, specialising in oriental ceramics and artwork.
In 2010, the brothers purchased a Chinese vase that had an asking price of just £136, but which sparked a bidding war and eventually sold for nearly £100,000.
Peters’ brother said at the time the vase was a ‘bargain’ and would likely be sold on to a Chinese client.
He is said to have business assets of £1.3 million.
The businessman had recently moved to south west London with Sophia’s Thai mother Kittiya Promsat.
Robert Peters, a Chinese porcelain expert, wrapped the cord of a dressing gown around Sophia’s neck on November 3 last year
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