A BRITISH woman working abroadvert was raped and brutally homicideed by an Uber driver earlier than he dumped her physique, an inquest has heard.
Rebecca Dykes, 30, was picked up by Tariq Houshieh in December 2017 Adjust toing a “woman’s Evening Outing” at A properly-respectd vacationer bar in Beirut, Lebanon.
Rebecca Dykes was raped and brutally homicideed by a Uber driver in Lebanon
Rebecca hadvert been working Inside the Lebanese capital since January 2017
Houchiye was arrested over the rape and homicide of Rebecca Dykes – he confessed to the crimes
However after she acquired into the cab, Houshieh raped her, strangled her to demise with a twine from his hoodie and dumped her physique by the facet of the roadvert.
Rebecca hadvert been working for the Division for Worldwide Enchancment serving to Lebanon To Deal with refugees from the wrestle in Syria.
Her physique was found shut to a roadvert on December 16, 2017, with choke marks Spherical her neck.
SHIP HAS SAILED
Jeff Bezos’ £400m superyacht moved In the midst of Evening time after bridge row
Houshieh was handed a demise sentence in 2019 – but is interesting to have it commuted, reviews MyLondon.
And it was revealed that he was working as a taxi driver – regardless of having a felony retwine and twice being arrested for alleged harassment and theft, Based mostly on Agence-France Presse.
At a a lot delayed inquest into her demise On the Inner South London Coroner’s courtroom in Southwrestlek on Wednesday, senior coroner Andrew Harrison quizzed British embassy in Beirut submit safety officer Alyson King Regarding The safety preparations in place as he confacetred The want for a prevention of future demises report.
Alyson famous staff have a safety short-term on arrival, carry private alarms, have month-to-month safety conferences, common workshops, And women’s solely durations.
INK-REDIBLE
Spouse takes out advert to disgrace ‘cheater’ husband… how she paid for It is unimaginable
Live performance CARNAGE
‘A minimal of 1 lifeless at pageant and evacuation underway’ after stage COLLAPSES
WATER PARK TRAGEDY
Nurse, 23, dies after falling 70ft by way of hole on zip line platform
Journey HELL
Spouse of vacationer found lifeless at resort Awakened ‘unable To maneuver as husband died’
NUKE Menace
Putin practises NUCLEAR missile strikes in chilling wrestle video games on Nato border
SHOCK CLAIMS
Feminine teacher, 28, arrested for grooming boy for intercourse as school sends wrestlening
In 2017 staff have been advertditionally suggested to solely use three vetted taxi corporations For private journey – this meant somefactor carried out outfacet of the safe preparations madverte for work.
These three corporations have been coated Inside The safety short-term, the courtroom heard.
However she advertmitted: “It acquired here to mild afterwrestleds, many staff have been using completely different taxi corporations As quickly as they found them useful.”
Coroner Harrison pressed her on The disadvertvantage, and said: “That suggested the short-term was inadvertequate or not accepted as needed…Were you gladvert with the advertequacy of the short-terming?”
Alyson said “sure” but advertded they proceed to replace the short-terming.
Coroner Harrison proceedd the grilling by asking how her response tallied with “in depth use of none accredited taxi corporations In the meantime”.
Alyson said she was not in submit On the time and Should look at meeting retwines to see if The disadvertvantage was launched up.
Coroner Harrison suggested Rebecca’s household would “deeply respect” An reply and inspired them to search the advertvice of the Overseas & Commonwealth Office after the listening to.
Overseas, Commonwealth & Enchancment Office headvert of safety Bharat Joshi said a particular safety go to after Rebecca’s demise concluded the “safety tradition was very very strong”.
Baffled by the declare, coroner Harrison requested: “If The safety tradition was so strong why have been so many staff using unregistered taxi providers?”
Joshi responded, telling the courtroom many staff “Decide to not Adjust to that suggestion”.
He advertditionally famous “Many people hadvert been using Uber throughout Lebanon and there hadvert by no means been a critical incident”.
He defined this was As a Outcome of of “familiarity” of Uber as A worldwide mannequin and comfort.
He recalled complaints by staff using the three vetted cab corporations they Needed To attend “15-20 minutes”.
In an emotional speech by way of video hyperlink, Rebecca’s mum Jane Houng said: “I simply hope that no mother or father has to Bear what We now have Needed to Bear.
“One factor that pained me very a lot was that now embassy staff put on private alarms.
“I really feel if Rebecca hadvert been sporting A private alarm at That time restrict it in all probability would have saved her life.
“As quickly as I went to Lebanon shortly after her demise and sat Across the desk with Rebecca’s pals and colleagues All of them said they used Uber. It was widespreadvert place For private journey.”
WHAT THE QUACK
I acquired 0.5mm of lip filler but remorse it Tons, I Appear to be a duck
VANTASTIC
Mum-of-22 Sue Radvertford reveals actuality of motorhome holiday Collectively with her youngsters
Making his conclusion of illegal killing, coroner Harrison summed up the “deeply tragic” listening to and said There have been “holes in understanding” of The safety preparations On the time.
However, he famous “good steps have been taken” Inside the 5 years since and it was “a matter for safety” as “nofactor in life is hazard free”. He advertded: “The hazards are acknowledged and the steps have been taken.”