Mother of ‘killer’ British influencer, 23, reveals frantic phone call with her ‘little girl’ hours before ‘murder’ – and begs Dubai authorities not to make her face the firing squad
The mother of a British influencer accused of murdering her boyfriend in Dubai has revealed frantic phone calls just hours before the stabbing as she pleaded with authorities not to leave her daughter facing a firing squad.
Brooke George, 23, said she was brought to the United Arab Emirates by William Treeby, 26, after he promised her luxury and a modeling career before confiscating her passport.
George, from Gravesend, Kent, claims Treeby became violent towards him after he booked a return ticket to England, prompting him to stab him with a kitchen knife in self-defence.
The former John Lewis employee turned influencer was arrested as she tried to board a flight to London on Monday.
George has since been charged with murder in Dubai and could now face the death penalty by firing squad.
However, even if he is not sentenced to death, his life sentence for murder has no possibility of parole.
Her mother Tess George, 55, said her daughter was “horrified” when she called home from the UAE in the hours before Treeby’s death.
Ms. George also said that after her daughter’s arrest, she was not allowed to see a lawyer and spent days crowded in a police station cell with ten women.
Brooke George is accused of killing her boyfriend, whom she met online, with a kitchen knife in Dubai. Mother reveals frantic phone calls just hours before stabbing
George claims William Treeby (pictured) became violent towards him after booking a return ticket to England, prompting him to stab him with a kitchen knife in defense
Ms George, a mother of six, said her daughter first started chatting online with Treeby, who lives in Dubai, in April this year.
Within weeks, Treeby introduced George to family members in England and then flew him to Dubai to visit him for the first time.
George, who has more than 100,000 followers on TikTok, traveled to the UAE at the end of May, where he spent about two and a half weeks with Treeby, who brought him to fancy restaurants and fancy beach clubs.
Mrs George recalls that her daughter believed Treeby was the man of her ‘dreams’ and planned to visit him again in Dubai just a week later.
That’s when George returned to Dubai and his mother told him that things had fallen out with Treeby and he received a worrying phone call from her daughter.
George had called his mother from a pub in the city and Mrs George described her as “petrified” and “completely horrified”.
He stated that his daughter was crying uncontrollably and wanted to return to England because she was ‘scared’.
Mrs George said Sun: ‘He was not himself the day before the incident. He was quieter than usual but didn’t tell me why. That evening they went to a bar in Dubai. When I spoke to Brooke immediately after the incident, she was absolutely horrified.
George is accused of murder in Dubai, where he could be sentenced to death by firing squad.
George’s mother said she was “horrified” when her daughter called home from the UAE just hours before Treeby’s death
‘I’ve never seen my daughter this scared. He was crying uncontrollably. I could see that one of his eyes was badly swollen and starting to close.
‘As Brooke’s mother, I am deeply concerned for her health. The girl I talked to that night was very scared. I firmly believe that he was desperately trying to get back home and away from what had happened to him.’
George alleges Treeby attacked him in the car before continuing the attack at his flat following a night out at Caffreys Bar in Jumeirah Village.
They had returned to his apartment to collect his passport when the fatal stabbing occurred.
However, after arriving at the airport, George was detained by security personnel who noticed the injuries he had sustained in the shootout.
Ms George said her family had since contacted lawyers in Dubai and had been fundraising to cover the high costs.
Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detainees in Dubai, supports George but said he could face a firing squad if convicted.
George claims Treeby attacked him in the car before continuing the attack at his flat following a night out at Caffreys Bar in Jumeirah Village
He said George’s case exposed a disturbing pattern of young British women being lured to Dubai with promises of romance and luxury, only to be exploited, sometimes sexually exploited.
Ms Stirling said: ‘The authorities must treat him as a victim of domestic violence during the investigation. Brooke claims she acted out of genuine fear for her safety following a violent attack.
‘We will ensure that his rights are protected and he receives a fair trial.’
George is believed to be held at Bur Dubai police station and is expected to be released on bail by the emirate’s authorities.
Her family claimed she was forced to strip naked in front of male officers and was unable to understand the proceedings due to a language barrier.
Treeby’s family said on social media they were ‘heartbroken’ by his death.
His sister Esther wrote: ‘He was not only my sister but also my best friend. I love you, Bill. ‘Forever 26.’
His mother Karen added: ‘Dear son, I am heartbroken. Rest in peace forever my Bill. You will be greatly missed and loved by all of us. ‘We will never forget you and we will always keep your memory alive.’
The Foreign Office said: ‘We are in contact with a British woman detained in the UAE. ‘We are supporting his family and are in contact with local authorities.’
