An Uber driver convicted of the brutal assault and murder of a British government official on death row has today been confirmed guilty of her murder.
Rebecca Dykes, who worked for the Department for International Development, was found dead in a Beirut street five years ago today after she disappeared following a “girls’ night” in the Lebanese capital.
Tariq Houshieh was found guilty of having m. assaulted Dykes and then strangled her with his hoodie cord before dropping her body in 2019.
He was sentenced to death, but appealed, an appeal judges rejected today.
Ms Dykes was driving home from a night out with friends in Beirut when Houshieh, her driver, attacked and killed her before disposing of her body
The death sentence of Tariq Houshieh, an Uber driver who sexually assaulted and then strangled a British civil servant in 2017, was confirmed today
However, it is unlikely that he will receive the death penalty as there is a de facto moratorium on executions in Lebanon. None have been exported since 2004.
Houshieh worked as a taxi driver, although he had a criminal record and had been arrested twice in the past for alleged harassment and theft.
After the incident, the Lebanese government urged people not to use the company, with a minister calling it unsafe.
The attack shocked the Lebanese expatriate community, where such attacks are rare and foreigners generally feel safe.
“We hope this verdict will bring closure to Becky’s family, the many people around the world who loved Becky and all whose lives she touched through her humanitarian work in Lebanon and elsewhere,” the British Embassy said in a statement. statement said in Beirut.
The van Dykes family said in a separate statement released by Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency that the final verdict follows several delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, court staff strikes and other concerns.
The final verdict is “an opportunity to commemorate Rebecca as a young woman who dedicated her short life to the victims of war and hardship,” the statement said.
“Her family has never seen Rebecca as motivated and happy as during her time in Lebanon.”
After her death, Van Dykes’ family and friends established a foundation in her name “dedicated to creating stable communities in Lebanon”.
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Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
