A British influencer, Brooke George, 23, is facing the death penalty by firing squad in Dubai after allegedly fatally stabbing her boyfriend, William Treeby, 26. George claims she acted in self-defense during an incident in Treeby's apartment after he allegedly confiscated her passport and assaulted her. Human rights group Detained in Dubai is representing George, asserting she feared for her safety and was attempting to escape him.
George, who previously worked for John Lewis, met Treeby online, and he reportedly lured her to Dubai with promises of a luxury lifestyle and a modeling career. According to George's account, on her second visit to the UAE in June, Treeby became controlling, confiscated her passport, and allegedly assaulted her when she requested it back. Her mother stated that her daughter called her in a state of panic, appearing terrified and with a swollen eye, expressing a desperate need to return home.
George alleges that Treeby assaulted her in a car after a night out at Caffreys Bar in Jumeirah Village before the altercation continued at his apartment. Fearing for her life, she claims she grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed him. She was arrested as she attempted to board a flight to London.
However, a friend of William Treeby has disputed George's narrative, describing Treeby as "a good guy with a big heart" and accusing George and her team of attempting to tarnish his reputation. This friend suggested that George was "living the life" and being well-treated by Treeby, questioning why she would return to Dubai for a second visit if he were controlling. The friend also suggested the incident might have stemmed from a "petty argument" and that both parties may have been violent, claiming Treeby had left George and returned home before she allegedly followed and committed the stabbing.
Treeby's family has expressed devastation over his death. His mother, Karen, posted on Facebook that she is "broken" and that her son will be "so missed and loved by us all." His sister, Esther, described him as her "best friend."
The Foreign Office confirmed it is in contact with a British woman detained in the UAE and is providing support to her family while engaging with local authorities. Detained in Dubai has raised concerns about George's treatment in custody, alleging she was forced to strip in front of male officers, denied legal representation, and faced a language barrier. The organization is advocating for her rights and a fair trial, urging authorities to consider her a domestic violence survivor.
This case has also highlighted a pattern, according to Detained in Dubai, of young British women being lured to Dubai with romantic or career promises, only to face exploitation. George, a TikTok influencer, could face execution if convicted of murder in the UAE.