Driver Admits Causing Death of Teenager Months After Dubai Prison Release
A driver has admitted causing the death of a British teenager in a north London car crash, just months after the young victim was released from a Dubai jail following a royal pardon.
Marwaan Mohamed Huseen, 20, pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday to causing the death of 19-year-old Marcus Fakana by dangerous driving. The fatal collision occurred during a Metropolitan Police pursuit in Tottenham in the early hours of October 3 last year.
Tragic Timeline of Events
The court heard how Huseen crashed a BMW into a lorry while being pursued by police officers. Marcus Fakana, a passenger in the vehicle, died from his injuries in hospital. A second passenger sustained serious injuries in the collision.
This tragic incident occurred just three months after Mr Fakana's release from a Dubai prison, where he had spent approximately one year incarcerated. The teenager had been imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates after having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl during a family holiday in summer 2024.
Dubai Imprisonment and Royal Pardon
Marcus Fakana, who was 18 at the time of the holiday romance, faced up to 20 years in prison under Dubai's strict laws regarding sexual relationships with minors. His case gained international attention before he was eventually freed thanks to a royal pardon from Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Radha Sterling, chief executive of campaign group Detained in Dubai which had lobbied for his release, expressed her devastation at his subsequent death. "Marcus spent the majority of this year in a Dubai prison which no doubt caused him long-lasting mental anguish," she said. "It's sad that of all of 2025, he was only free for the three months from the 3rd of July until the 3rd of October."
Police Pursuit and Fatal Collision
The Metropolitan Police provided details of the events leading to the fatal crash. Officers were on patrol in Tottenham when they attempted to stop what they described as a "vehicle of interest" on Pretoria Road at approximately 00:52 hours.
After pursuing the vehicle for around sixty seconds, police temporarily lost sight of it before locating the BMW on The Roundway, where it had been involved in a serious collision with a lorry. Emergency services including the London Ambulance Service and London Air Ambulance attended the scene, but Mr Fakana could not be saved.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Huseen appeared at Wood Green Crown Court via videolink from HMP Pentonville, where he has been in custody since his arrest at the crash scene. The defendant, of Argyle Road in Tottenham, also pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving to another passenger in the vehicle.
While Huseen did not formally enter a plea to charges of driving without insurance and a licence, the court was informed that he admits to being uninsured and unlicensed at the time of the fatal incident.
Judge Emma Deacon KC remanded Huseen back into custody following his guilty pleas. The defendant is due to submit a basis for his pleas, with a sentencing date to be set at a hearing scheduled for February 27.
Broader Context and Implications
This case highlights several concerning issues:
- The tragic loss of a young life shortly after release from foreign imprisonment
- The dangers of unlicensed and uninsured drivers on UK roads
- The consequences of police pursuits in urban areas
- The lasting impact of international legal systems on British citizens abroad
Marcus Fakana's initial imprisonment in Dubai occurred after the mother of the 17-year-old girl discovered pictures and messages on her daughter's phone and reported the relationship to UAE authorities. Under Dubai law, adults having sexual relationships with individuals under 18 can face prosecution for relationships with minors.
The community in Tottenham continues to mourn the loss of the young man whose freedom was so tragically short-lived after his return from the Middle East.
