The mother of 23-year-old British influencer Brooke George says her daughter was “punched hard in the face and attacked” by her boyfriend before she allegedly stabbed him to death in Dubai – a charge that could carry the death penalty by firing squad.

Brooke George, from Gravesend, Kent, remains behind bars in Dubai after being charged with premeditated murder following the death of her 26-year-old boyfriend, Bill Treeby.

According to reports, the 23-year-old TikTok star first traveled to Dubai with Treeby after the pair developed an online relationship. She later told police the trip had been positive, describing it as “the time of my life.”

That experience, however, would not last.

George told investigators her second visit to Dubai bore little resemblance to the first, alleging Treeby’s behavior changed soon after she arrived and became increasingly controlling and abusive.

‘Punched hard in the face and attacked’

Radha Stirling, CEO of advocacy group Detained in Dubai, said George was trying to “escape” the country and the grasp of her abusive boyfriend before the fatal confrontation.

“She discovered he had only booked her a one-way ticket, leaving her alarmed and wanting to return home,” she said, adding that later that day, “he became intoxicated and assaulted her” before “continuing the attack after they returned to the apartment.”

“Brooke contacted [family] in a state of panic after being repeatedly punched,” Stirling said in a statement. “Desperate to leave the UAE, she arranged a flight home with help from friends and returned to the apartment solely to recover her passport.”

According to the activist, George arrived at Treeby’s apartment to find “her personal possessions sprawled over the apartment.”

“She was crying and begging for her passport’s return when she was punched hard in the face and attacked,” Stirling said, adding that George allegedly “feared for her life,” grabbed “for a kitchen knife within her grasp,” and “acted in self-defence” when she stabbed Treeby to death.

‘Brooke George’s case terrifies me’

The influencer was arrested at Dubai International Airport on June 22 while attempting to board her flight back to the UK, according to reports. She is being held at Bur Dubai jail after being charged with murder, and if convicted, she could face death by firing squad.

Sharing her concerns over George’s potential execution on X, Stirling wrote: “I was the last person to speak to a man in the UAE before he was executed by firing squad. We spoke just 30 mins before he was killed. I have never forgotten that conversation or the unfair justice system that killed him. That is why Brooke George’s case terrifies me.”

Daughter was “utterly terrified”

Meanwhile, back at home, George’s mother, Thereza George, said she realized something had changed “after Brooke returned to Dubai for the second time.”

“The dynamic between them had clearly changed,” Thereza said, referring to the relationship between George and Treeby.

She said Brooke sounded distressed when they spoke the day before the incident, adding that her daughter later went to a bar that evening.

“The day before the incident, she did not seem like herself. She was quieter and not her usual happy, cheerful self, but she did not tell me why. That evening they went to a bar in Dubai,” Thereza said in a statement shared by Detained in Dubai. “When I spoke to Brooke right after the incident, she was absolutely terrified. I have never seen my daughter so frightened in my life. She was crying uncontrollably. I could see that one of her eyes was badly swollen and was beginning to close.

“As Brooke’s mother, I am deeply concerned for her welfare. The daughter I spoke to that night was utterly terrified. I firmly believe she was desperately trying to get home and away from whatever had happened to her.”

‘Lured to Dubai’

Stirling said her organization will continue advocating for George as the legal case unfolds.

“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 explained.

“Over recent years, there have been increasing reports of women, including social media influencers, models and young travellers, being lured to Dubai with promises of luxury lifestyles, paid work, holidays or romantic relationships, only to later allege that they were subjected to forced attendance at porta-potty parties, sexual exploitation, coercion, violence or other degrading treatment.”

According to people close to George, Stirling said, she may have been drawn to Dubai under similar promises.

“Brooke reported seeing disturbing videos on his computer before the fatal incident,” Stirling said.

“Given these allegations, we urge the UAE authorities to preserve and forensically examine all electronic devices, computers, mobile phones, online accounts and digital communications connected with the deceased and any associates, to determine whether Brooke was targeted for exploitation and whether others may also have been victims.”

What do you think about what’s happening to Brooke George? Please let us know your thoughts and then share this story with others to help Detained in Dubai raise awareness.

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