Billionaire’s son admits role in student's death
BBC News Arabic special correspondent
I was a student myself when Martine's body was discovered, and I found the reports about it deeply shocking, especially as the main suspect in her murder was Yemeni - I am also from Yemen. Those friends say Farouk then offered to host an after-party at his apartment in Great Portland Street, central London. They were too tired to go, but say Martine wanted to continue partying. CCTV shows her leaving the club with Farouk at 02:59. There are no witnesses as to what happened next. By sunrise, she would be dead - though her body would not be discovered for at least another 48 hours. By this time, Farouk had fled the UK on a flight to Cairo.
But I also knew it wouldn't be easy. When a friend got hold of his number, I messaged him over several different apps but received no response. And then the friend noticed he was using Snapchat.I sent him a message and he responded within seconds. His first question was to ask where I was from. I gave him the name of the affluent Yemeni neighbourhood I grew up in, sensing that he was probably based there too. I was right. Immediately his interest was piqued.
Now that Farouk seemed ready to share more, I made it explicit that I worked for the BBC and wanted to report on his story.So I asked him to elaborate on an earlier text exchange in which he'd talked about having "major regrets". He replied: Another of Martine's friends, Thale Lassen, says she thinks Farouk had once tried to kiss Martine, and she had told him she wasn't interested. In fact, she says, Martine would often crash at his flat as it was so central. CCTV shows her linking arms with Farouk as they leave the club.
I spoke about this further with another friend of Farouk's father - Jordanian businessman Abdulhay Al Mejali. Desperate for justice, Odd Petter wrote to Queen Elizabeth in 2010, who referred the killing to then London mayor Boris Johnson. Mr Petter has received several UK government commitments to help resolve the case. I have kept in touch with him regularly over the past 12 years, and have always promised to try to get answers about what happened to his daughter.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Martine McCutcheon suffering ‘crippling anxiety’ amid perimenopause symptomsFormer EastEnders actress Martine McCutcheon has opened up about her perimenopause symptoms, revealing she's been suffering from 'crippling anxiety' and 'brain fog'
Read more »
I was wrong: the Corsair Xeneon Flex bendable display isn't just a gimmickIs this bendable monitor the only one you'll ever need?
Read more »
Michael Gove backs Ofsted inspections in face of criticism after death of Ruth PerryOfsted has come under pressure after the headteacher took her own life, with a petition calling for an inquiry into the inspection of her school gathering more than 110,000 signatures.
Read more »
British woman stabbed to death in Spain and man arrested 'fleeing scene'The man is said to be under police guard in hospital with a knife wound to the stomach
Read more »
Teen girl, 18, arrested over hit-and-run death of OAP mown down crossing roadA TEEN girl has been arrested after a pensioner was mowed down and killed outside a Thai restaurant. The man, aged in his 70s, was on a pedestrian crossing in Banbury, Oxfordshire, when the Nissan …
Read more »