UK4 min(s) read
Published 10:58 26 Jun 2026 GMT
A British influencer accused of murder in Dubai is facing the possibility of the death penalty, with supporters claiming a "major red flag" emerged long before the fatal incident.
Brooke George, 23, from Gravesend, Kent, has been charged over the death of 26-year-old British national Bill Treeby. George denies murder and maintains she acted in self-defense after allegedly falling victim to repeated physical abuse.
The former department store employee is being held at Bur Dubai prison while the case proceeds through the UAE legal system. If convicted, she could face the death penalty.
Human rights organization Detained in Dubai is urging authorities to investigate the case as one involving alleged domestic violence rather than treating George solely as a murder suspect.
Its chief executive, Radha Stirling, said: "She reached for a knife after being attacked and punched in the face. Authorities must treat her as a domestic violence survivor while they investigate."
According to George, she met Treeby through Facebook before the pair travelled together to Dubai. She said their first trip was "the time of my life."
However, she claims his behavior changed dramatically during a second visit.
George alleges he became controlling and abusive, and says she later discovered he had only booked her a one-way ticket to Dubai, leaving her anxious to return home.
She claims that after an evening at McCafferty's Bar in Jumeirah Village, he assaulted her inside a car before the violence continued back at their apartment.
Her family says George phoned them in a state of panic after being punched several times.
They say she managed to arrange a flight back to the UK with help from friends before returning to the apartment, only to collect her passport.
According to her relatives, she was crying and pleading for the document when she was allegedly attacked again.
George says she feared for her life and grabbed a kitchen knife in self-defence.
She was arrested at Dubai Airport during the early hours of June 22 and charged with murder.
Stirling argues the case reflects a broader pattern of women allegedly being lured to Dubai with promises of luxury before experiencing abuse.
"Brooke maintains that she acted only after being subjected to a violent assault and in genuine fear for her safety," she claimed.
"She should be treated not merely as an accused person, but as a presumed victim of violence whose allegations and documented injuries deserve proper investigation."
She 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."
Stirling also claimed there has been an increase in reports involving influencers and young women allegedly being recruited under false pretences.
"International organisations and law enforcement agencies have documented cases in which women were recruited under false pretences for the purpose of exploitation, including trafficking," she said.
"Those closest to Brooke became increasingly concerned that she may have been lured to Dubai under false pretences for the purpose of exploitation."
"We are calling for Brooke to be released on bail pending the outcome of the investigation. The authorities must investigate Brooke's allegations with the same seriousness as the allegation against her."
She also said witnesses reportedly observed visible injuries following the incident.
"Rather than treating Brooke solely as a murder suspect, investigators must also examine her being the victim of serious violence and possible exploitation," Stirling said.
"She should be afforded protection, appropriate medical care, legal representation and immediate British consular assistance while the investigation proceeds."
One detail from George's first visit that has also been highlighted as what Stirling described as a "major red flag."
According to Detained in Dubai, Treeby arranged a professional bikini photoshoot for George during her first trip, despite it not being something she had requested — information that is believed to be a major red flag.
"It's a bit strange to be paying for a professional photographer for her bikini shots – it's not something she wanted or asked for," Stirling said.
