A 23-year-old British influencer, Brooke George, is facing the death penalty by firing squad in Dubai after being accused of murdering her boyfriend. George, from Gravesend, Kent, has been denied access to a lawyer since her arrest on Monday, a situation that has raised significant concerns among human rights advocates.
George was apprehended as she attempted to board a flight to London. She is accused of killing William Treeby, 26, also from Kent, at an apartment in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday. According to her account, she acted in self-defense after Treeby allegedly lured her to Dubai with promises of a luxury lifestyle and modeling career, only to confiscate her passport and assault her when she requested it back.
Detained in Dubai, a human rights organization, has taken up George's case. Radha Stirling, the group's chief executive, stated that she is "deeply concerned" for George's welfare, particularly as authorities have reportedly refused to investigate the domestic abuse allegations George has made. Stirling emphasized that George is being denied the legal and psychological support typically afforded to individuals claiming self-defense following alleged abuse.
George's mother, Thereza George, described her daughter as being in a "state of panic" and "terrified" during phone calls before and after the incident. She reported that Brooke's eye was swollen and beginning to close when they last spoke. George's family stated she met Treeby in May during a trip to Dubai, where he initially appeared to be kind and arranged a photoshoot. However, during a subsequent visit in June, she claims he became violent and took her passport.
Contrasting accounts have emerged from a friend of William Treeby, who spoke anonymously to the Daily Mail. This individual described Treeby as "a good guy with a big heart" and dismissed George's narrative, suggesting the couple had a "petty argument" and that both might have been violent. The friend questioned why George would have flown to Dubai for a second time if she was being mistreated.
The victim, William Treeby, had prior convictions for unlawful wounding and common assault in December 2023, for which he received a suspended prison sentence. He was also facing trial in the upcoming year on charges related to conspiracy to supply cocaine, following a seizure of drugs and cash totaling £80,000 in March 2024.
Treeby's family has expressed their grief over his death. His mother wrote on Facebook that she is "broken" and that her son will be "so missed and loved." His sister described him as her "best friend."
William Treeby's death follows a history of family tragedy. His father was murdered in 2009 by relatives in a hit-and-run incident related to a property dispute, an event that led to the conviction of his father's brother and nephews. His father's brother later died by suicide in prison.