The mother of a British influencer accused of killing her boyfriend in Dubai has described a frantic phone call with her daughter hours before the fatal stabbing and is appealing to authorities not to impose the death penalty. Brooke George, 23, claims she was lured to the United Arab Emirates by William Treeby, 26, who allegedly promised her a modeling career and a life of luxury before confiscating her passport.
George, from Gravesend, Kent, alleges that Treeby became violent after she booked a flight back to Britain, leading her to stab him with a kitchen knife in self-defense. She was arrested on Monday as she attempted to board a flight to London and has since been charged with murder. In Dubai, the charge of murder can carry the death penalty by firing squad, and a life sentence offers no possibility of parole.
Tess George, Brooke's mother, stated that her daughter was "terrified" during their call from the UAE in the hours leading up to Treeby's death. Ms. George also reported that her daughter has not been granted access to a lawyer since her arrest and has been held in a crowded police station cell with nine other women for several days.
"She doesn't speak Arabic, doesn't know what has been said, what she signed. She has no clue," Ms. George told The Sun. "They won't tell her, they won't converse with her, or even ask her about her safeguarding issues. As you can imagine, she is terrified. She's vulnerable. She doesn't know what to do."
Ms. George said her daughter began communicating with Treeby, who resided in Dubai, online in April. Within weeks, Treeby introduced George to his family in England before flying her to Dubai for her first visit. George, who has over 100,000 TikTok followers, spent approximately two and a half weeks in Dubai starting at the end of May, where Treeby reportedly took her to high-end restaurants and luxury beach clubs. Her mother recalled George believing Treeby was the man of her "dreams" and had planned a return visit just a week later.
However, upon George's return to Dubai, her mother stated that issues arose between the couple, leading to a distressing phone call. George contacted her mother from a bar in the city, and Ms. George described her daughter as "petrified" and "absolutely terrified," sobbing uncontrollably and expressing a desire to return to Britain due to fear. "The day before the incident, she wasn't herself. She was quieter than usual but wouldn't 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," Ms. George recounted. "I have never seen my daughter so frightened. She was crying uncontrollably. I could see one of her eyes was badly swollen and 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 trying desperately to get home and away from whatever had happened to her."
George claims Treeby assaulted her in a car after a night out at Caffreys Bar in Jumeirah Village before continuing the attack at his apartment. The fatal stabbing reportedly occurred when they returned to his flat to retrieve her passport. After arriving at the airport, George was detained by security staff who observed her injuries sustained during the confrontation.
George's family has since contacted Dubai-based lawyers and is fundraising to cover legal expenses. Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai, is assisting George. Stirling noted that George's case potentially highlights a pattern of young British women being lured to Dubai with promises of romance and luxury, only to face exploitation. "Authorities must treat her as a domestic violence survivor while they investigate. Brooke maintains she acted in genuine fear for her safety after a violent assault," Stirling said. "We will ensure her rights are protected and that she receives a fair trial."
George is reportedly being held at the Bur Dubai police station. Treeby's family has expressed their grief on social media, with his sister Esther writing, "He was not only my brother but my best friend. I love you, my Bill. Forever 26." His mother, Karen, added, "My darling son, I'm broken. Rest in forever peace, my Bill. You will be so missed and loved by us all. We will never forget you and will keep your memory alive always." The Foreign Office has confirmed they are in contact with a British woman detained in the UAE and are providing support to her family while liaising with local authorities.