A DEPTFORD dad plunged 120ft to his death when armed raiders threatened to murder his two-year-old daughter, the Old Bailey heard.

The gang of three men, armed with a knife and a claw hammer, burst into Thei Daiby's 12th-floor flat and demanded the 29-year-old hand over cash and the keys to his silver Audi TT sports car.

When he refused, it is alleged they grabbed his daughter Sarah and held a knife to her throat, demanding once more he hand over the money and the keys.

Mr Daiby then climbed out of the window of his Abinger Road flat in a bid to get the intruders to leave but plummeted to his death after hanging to the ledge for more than three minutes.

It is alleged the trio were helped in the raid by 35-year-old Janet Ware, who knocked on Mr Daiby's door and asked to borrow money, allowing the gang to burst in on August 31, last year.

The gang fled soon after Mr Daiby's friend, Ahipeaud Honore, who was also in the flat, called the police.

Ware, of Giffin Street, Deptford, denied conspiracy to rob on July 4.

Damiean Fielding, of Barry Road, Dulwich, Sunny Taiwo, of Capworth Street, Leyton, and Gbadgesin Adgebenie, of Romford Road, Forest Gate, all aged 22, deny manslaughter, conspiracy to rob and making threats to kill Mr Daiby's daughter.

Prosecutor Sasha Wass QC said: "It is the Crown's case he fell because he was driven by fear and panic after the three men burst into his flat, held a knife to his two-year-old daughter and demanded his car keys.

"It is not the Crown's case all three men intended he would come to such harm."

Neighbour Harry Nworah told the court he was woken up by screaming from the upstairs flat.

He said: "I thought it was the couple fighting or quarrelling. The noise was really loud and then there was a bang.

"I looked out of my bedroom window. I saw feet hanging and they were kicking the glass.

"I just saw his feet and he was struggling."

He added: "You can imagine I was in shock. I had woken up and saw this guy dangling there."

The trial continues.

July 9, 2002 13:00