An Uber driver convicted of the brutal sexual assault and homicide of a British authorities employee has as we speak seen the dying sentence for her killing upheld.
Rebecca Dykes, who labored for the Division for Worldwide Growth, was discovered lifeless beside a street in Beirut 5 years in the past as we speak after going lacking following a ‘ladies night time out’ within the Lebanese capital.
Tariq Houshieh was discovered responsible of assaulting Ms Dykes after which strangling her to dying with the chord of his hoodie earlier than dumping her physique in 2019.
Tariq Houshieh, an Uber driver who sexually assaulted then strangled a British authorities employee in 2017, has as we speak seen his dying sentence upheld
He was sentenced to dying however appealed, with judges as we speak rejecting that attraction.
Nevertheless, he’s unlikely to face the dying penalty as there’s a de-facto moratorium on executions in Lebanon. None have been carried out since 2004.
Houshieh had been working as a taxi driver regardless of having a felony file and being arrested twice up to now for alleged harassment and theft.
Following the incident the Authorities of Lebanon urged individuals to keep away from utilizing the corporate, with one minister calling it unsafe.
The assault shocked Lebanon’s expat group, the place such assaults are uncommon and foreigners typically really feel protected.
‘We hope this verdict will convey some closure for Becky’s household, for the various all over the world who beloved Becky, and for all these whose lives she touched by way of her humanitarian work in Lebanon and elsewhere,’ the UK embassy in Beirut stated.
Ms Dykes was heading dwelling from an evening out with buddies in Beirut when Houshieh, her driver, attacked and murdered her earlier than dumping her physique
Dykes’ household, in a separate assertion carried by Lebanon’s state-run Nationwide Information Company, stated the ultimate verdict adopted a number of delays as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, courtroom worker strikes and different points.
The ultimate ruling is ‘an event to recollect Rebecca as a younger lady who had devoted her quick life to the victims of warfare and distress,’ the assertion stated.
‘Her household had by no means seen Rebecca as motivated and glad as she was throughout her keep in Lebanon.’
After her dying, Dykes’ household and buddies arrange a basis in her title ‘devoted to the creation of steady communities in Lebanon.’
