Antiques dealer charged over death of girl, 7

AN ANTIQUES dealer has been charged with the attempted murder of a seven-year-old girl who was found dying at a £1million home on Friday.

Robert Peters, 55, was in court yesterday morning after neighbours saw him being led away in handcuffs. But magistrates heard it was unlikely the child would survive, and police later confirmed she had died in hospital shortly before 11am yesterday.

Neighbours described the scene on Friday morning when officers and ambulance crews raced to Blenheim Road, Raynes Park, near Wimbledon.

They said Mr Peters was questioned by officers at the home, where a £50,000 Jaguar XK convertible was parked on the driveway, before he was taken away in a police van.

A 70-year-old man who lives nearby said: “I saw him being taken away in handcuffs and then I saw somebody being brought out on a stretcher and it looked like a child. He was being talked to by police officers, then they brought him up the road to a van.” A court order, put in place while the child was alive, prevents her from being identified at this stage. It is believed Peters runs an antiques firm with his brother in Kensington, specialising in oriental ceramics and artworks.

During the brief hearing at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court yesterday morning, Peters spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address. He was remanded in custody until his next appearance, at Kingston Crown Court, on Dec 1.