Brit influencer, 23, faces death by firing squad in Dubai after ‘fatally stabbing UK man, 26, who attacked her’
A 23-YEAR-old Brit TikToker is facing the death penalty after she was charged with the murder of a 26-year-old man in Dubai.
Brooke George, from Gravesend, Kent, travelled to the luxury Gulf city with the British man after developing a relationship online.
She is accused of fatally stabbing him, but alleges she was repeatedly assaulted and acted in self-defence.
It is understood that the man she allegedly killed is Bill Treeby, 26, also from Kent.
The former John Lewis shop assistant is now being held at the notorious Bur Dubai prison and faces the death penalty by firing squad if convicted.
But human rights group Detained in Dubai is urging authorities to treat the incident as a domestic abuse case and to release Brooke on bail pending an investigation.
CEO Radha Stirling said: “She reached for a knife after being attacked and punched in the face. Authorities must treat her as a domestic violence survivor while they investigate.”
Brooke said she met the unnamed man on Facebook and the pair flew to Dubai for a week initially, which she described as the “time of my life”.
But during their second trip, the influencer said she saw his behaviour change dramatically.
She alleges he became increasingly controlling and abusive, and that she discovered he had only booked her a one way ticket, leaving her alarmed and wanting to return home.
According to Brooke, after an evening at McCaffrey’s Bar in Jumeirah Village, he became intoxicated and assaulted her in the car before continuing the attack after they returned to the apartment.
The 23-year-old’s family said she contacted them in a state of panic after being punched repeatedly.
Desperate to leave the UAE, she arranged a flight home with help from friends and returned to the apartment solely to recover her passport.
The family say she was crying and begging for her passport’s return when she was punched hard in the face and attacked.
Brooke says she feared for her life and, reaching for a kitchen knife within her grasp, acted in self- defence.
She was arrested in the early hours of June 22, and has been charged with murder after police arrested her at Dubai airport.
Her family claim she has been forced to strip naked in front of officers at the Bur Dubai prison without a female present.
Brooke has also allegedly been given little explanation about the proceedings due to the language barrier.
Detained in Dubai also said she had been deprived of access to her embassy and forced to make statements in the absence of a lawyer.
The Sun has contacted the Foreign Office for comment.
Brooke’s mother, Thereza, said in a statement: “After Brooke returned to Dubai for the second time, the dynamic between them had clearly changed.
“The day before the incident, she did not seem like herself. She was quieter and not her usual happy, cheerful self, but she did not tell me why. That evening they went to a bar in Dubai.
“When I spoke to Brooke right after the incident, she was absolutely terrified. I have never seen my daughter so frightened in my life. She was crying uncontrollably.
“I could see that one of her eyes was badly swollen and was beginning to close.
“As Brooke’s mother, I am deeply concerned for her welfare. The daughter I spoke to that night was utterly terrified.
“I firmly believe she was desperately trying to get home and away from whatever had happened to her.”
Stirling said that Brooke’s case is a familiar tale of female influencers being lured to Dubai with promises of luxury only to be subjected to violence.
She said: “Brooke maintains that she acted only after being subjected to a violent assault and in genuine fear for her safety.
“She should be treated not merely as an accused person, but as a presumed victim of violence whose allegations and documented injuries deserve proper investigation.
“We will be working to ensure that her rights are protected, that she receives a fair trial, and that the circumstances leading to this tragedy are fully and impartially examined.
“Over recent years, there have been increasing reports of women, including social media influencers, models and young travellers, being lured to Dubai with promises of luxury lifestyles, paid work, holidays or romantic relationships, only to later allege that they were subjected to forced attendance at porta-potty parties sexual exploitation, coercion, violence or other degrading treatment.
“International organisations and law enforcement agencies have documented cases in which women were recruited under false pretences for the purpose of exploitation, including trafficking.”
“Those closest to Brooke became increasingly concerned that she may have been lured to Dubai under false pretences for the purpose of exploitation.
“Their concerns were fuelled by his unexplained change in behaviour, the one way ticket, the bikini clad professional photo shoot arranged during her first visit, the alleged withholding of her passport, Brooke telling friends that ‘things weren’t right’, and her growing fear that she needed to escape.
“Brooke reported seeing disturbing videos on his computer and being assaulted by him before the fatal incident.
“Given these allegations, we urge the UAE authorities to preserve and forensically examine all electronic devices, computers, mobile phones, online accounts and digital communications connected with the deceased and any associates, to determine whether Brooke was targeted for exploitation and whether others may also have been victims.
“We are calling for Brooke to be released on bail pending the outcome of the investigation.”
“The authorities must investigate Brooke’s allegations with the same seriousness as the allegation against her.
Multiple witnesses observed visible injuries immediately after the incident.
“Rather than treating Brooke solely as a murder suspect, investigators must also examine her being the victim of serious violence and possible exploitation.
“She should be afforded protection, appropriate medical care, legal representation and immediate British consular assistance while the investigation proceeds.”