The mother of a 23-year-old British TikTok influencer accused of killing her boyfriend has spoken out, stating her daughter is 'terrified' and 'vulnerable'. Brooke George, from Gravesend, Kent, is facing a possible murder charge in Dubai after stabbing 26-year-old fellow Brit Bill Treeby. Campaign group Detained in Dubai revealed it is assisting Ms George, who alleges she acted in self-defence after being 'repeatedly punched' and 'feared for her life'.
Background of the relationship
Ms George, a former John Lewis worker, met Mr Treeby on Facebook and travelled to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates after developing an online relationship, according to Detained in Dubai. The group said that after a positive first visit, Ms George alleged Mr Treeby became 'increasingly controlling and abusive' during a second trip. On the evening of the incident, they visited McCafferty's Irish Bar in Jumeirah Village, Dubai, where she alleged he became intoxicated and assaulted her.
Details of the incident
According to her family, Ms George contacted them in a state of panic after being 'repeatedly punched' and had arranged a flight home before returning to the apartment to recover her passport. Detained in Dubai said her family alleged she was 'crying and begging for her passport's return when she was punched hard in the face and attacked'. The group added: 'Brooke says she feared for her life and, reaching for a kitchen knife within her grasp, acted in self-defence.'
Arrest and legal concerns
A 'bruised and battered Brooke' was arrested in the early hours of Monday, June 22, according to Detained in Dubai. She now faces a possible murder charge and, if found guilty, execution by firing squad. The organisation claimed Ms George has received 'little explanation of the proceedings due to the language barrier' and has been 'deprived of access to her embassy and forced to make statements in the absence of a lawyer'.
Mother's statement
Ms George's mother Tess, 55, told The Sun that the family has instructed lawyers in Dubai and is attempting to raise money for legal costs. She said she decided to speak out because she feared her daughter could not tell her own story while in jail. 'She doesn't speak Arabic, doesn't know what has been said, what she signed. She has no clue,' Tess told the newspaper. 'They won't tell her, they won't converse with her, or even ask her about her safeguarding issues,' she claimed. Tess added that her daughter is 'terrified, vulnerable and doesn't know what to do'.
Campaign group's response
Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai, said that 'rather than treating Brooke solely as a murder suspect, investigators must also examine her being the victim of serious violence and possible exploitation'. Ms Stirling added: 'We will be working to ensure that her rights are protected, that she receives a fair trial, and that the circumstances leading to this tragedy are fully and impartially examined.' The group also expressed concerns that Ms George may have been lured to Dubai under false pretences for exploitation, citing Mr Treeby's unexplained change in behaviour, the one-way ticket, a bikini-clad professional photo shoot during her first visit, alleged withholding of her passport, and her growing fear that she needed to escape. Detained in Dubai is calling for Ms George to be released on bail pending investigation and to receive protection, medical care, legal representation, and immediate British consular assistance.
Official response
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: 'We are in touch with a British woman detained in the UAE, we are supporting her family, and we are in contact with the local authorities.' The Dubai Government Media Office has been approached for comment via email.
