British Teen Freed From Dubai Jail Dies In Tottenham Car Crash

A British teenager recently released from a Dubai prison has died in a car crash in north London, just three months after regaining his freedom.

Marcus Fakana, 19, was a passenger in a car that collided with a truck in Tottenham in the early hours of Friday. He was rushed to hospital with serious injuries but later died.

The Metropolitan Police said officers had tried to stop the vehicle, but after a brief 60-second chase, they lost sight of it. The car was later found crashed into a truck.

Fakana had been jailed in Dubai for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl when he was 18. He was granted a royal pardon by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in July, allowing him to return to the UK.

Radha Stirling, his lawyer and founder of the Detained in Dubai advocacy group, said Fakana had been “grateful for the compassion shown to him by the British public” and that the experience had given him “a renewed focus on Christianity and prayer.” She added he was “looking forward to building a positive future” after his release.

The relationship came to light when the girl’s mother discovered messages between them after returning to the UK and reported it to authorities. Stirling said Fakana’s time in prison had caused “long-lasting mental anguish,” and noted he had only been free for three months before the crash.

Marwaan Mohamed Huseen, 19, of Argyle Road, Tottenham, has been charged over the crash. He faces multiple charges, including causing death by dangerous driving, driving without insurance or a licence, and failing to stop. He is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court.

The Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Office for Police Conduct have been informed about the incident.