The British influencer Brooke George is accused of murdering a British man in her apartment in the United Arab Emirates after allegedly being abused by him. She is charged with first degree murder and, if convicted, faces the death penalty, it said “Telegraph”.
George claims she acted in self-defense after the man, whom she met on Facebook, became violent and repeatedly assaulted her.
Her family say she contacted them “in a state of panic” after being repeatedly punched by the man. She tries to plan a flight home, only to discover that her lover is hiding her passport. After she begged him to return her passport, she was allegedly punched in the face and stabbed with a kitchen knife in self-defense.
Brooke was arrested at the airport on June 22 when she tried to flee the UAE, the family said.
“I am deeply concerned for her well-being. The daughter I spoke to that night was absolutely terrified. I firmly believe she was trying desperately to get home and get away from what happened to her,” said Theresa George, Brooke’s mother.
Detained in Dubai, a human rights group, claims she was given little explanation of the proceedings because of the language barrier and was denied access to her embassy and forced to give statements in the absence of a lawyer.
Radha Stirlingchief executive of Detained in Dubai, said the case “raises serious concerns about violence against women, the right to self-defence, a fair trial and the treatment of British nationals detained abroad”.
Stirling also noted that in recent years there have been increasing reports of women being “lured to Dubai with promises of a luxurious lifestyle, paid work, holidays or romantic relationships, who were later subjected to sexual exploitation, coercion, violence or other degrading treatment”.
“Brooke claims she only acted after being subjected to violent attack and out of genuine fear for her safety. She should be treated not only as an accused person, but as a presumed victim of violence whose allegations and documented injuries deserve a proper investigation. Rather than treating Brooke solely as a murder suspect, investigators must also examine whether she is a victim of serious violence and possible exploitation. She should be provided with protection, appropriate medical care, legal representation and immediate British consular assistance while the investigation continues,” she said.
