Brooke George, a 23-year-old British influencer, has been charged with murder in Dubai following the death of William Treeby, 26. George alleges she was lured to the United Arab Emirates by Treeby, who subsequently confiscated her passport and became violent after she booked a flight back to Britain. She claims she stabbed him with a kitchen knife in self-defense.
George was arrested on Monday as she attempted to board a flight to London. She faces the possibility of the death penalty by firing squad if convicted in Dubai, or a life sentence with no parole. Her mother, Tess George, revealed that her daughter called her hours before the incident, expressing terror and a desire to return to the UK. "She was crying uncontrollably. I could see one of her eyes was badly swollen and beginning to close," Tess George stated, adding that her daughter was "petrified" and "absolutely terrified."
According to George's mother, Treeby had promised her daughter a life of luxury and a modeling career after they connected online in April. George, who has over 100,000 TikTok followers, visited Treeby in Dubai at the end of May. While her initial visit was positive, the situation deteriorated on a subsequent trip when, George claims, Treeby assaulted her in a car after a night out before continuing the attack at his apartment. It was during an attempt to retrieve her passport from his flat that the fatal stabbing occurred.
George's family has reported that she has not had access to a lawyer since her arrest and has been held in a crowded police station cell. Her mother expressed concern over her daughter's inability to understand proceedings due to a language barrier and alleged that she was forced to strip in front of male officers. Lawyers in Dubai have been contacted by the family, who are fundraising to cover legal costs.
Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai, is supporting George and highlighted that her case reflects a pattern of young British women being exploited after being lured to Dubai with promises of romance and luxury. Stirling stated that authorities should investigate George as a domestic violence survivor and ensure she receives a fair trial.
Treeby's family has expressed their grief over his death on social media. The Foreign Office confirmed it is in contact with the British woman detained in the UAE and is supporting her family while liaising with local authorities.