Man charged over Marcus’s death: Family’s agony after British teenager who was jailed for holiday romance in Dubai with girl, 17, dies in crash three months after prison release
The family of a British teenager who was killed in a car crash three months after being released from a hellhole Dubai jail are in ‘too much’ emotional pain – as a man is charged with causing his death.
Marcus Fakana, 19, spent seven months languishing in Al Awir prison over a holiday relationship with another British tourist before being granted a royal pardon by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Marcus, then 18, had struck up the relationship with the girl, then 17 and just a few months younger than him – a fact he was not aware of at the time.
Despite the relationship being consensual, Marcus was sentenced due to the Gulf state’s laws that sexual intercourse with anyone under the age of 18 is an offence.
After relentless campaigning by his family, Marcus was freed from the prison – which is often dubbed the ‘Middle East’s Alcatraz’ – on July 3 this year, and had been reunited with his loved ones after the nightmare ordeal.
But in the early hours of Friday morning, Marcus tragically died after a car he was a passenger in smashed into another vehicle while it was being tailed by the Metropolitan Police in Tottenham, north London.
Officers say they ‘temporarily lost sight’ of the vehicle around 60 seconds after beginning their pursuit, before they discovered its involvement in a huge crash at The Roundway.
Now, Marwaan Mohamed Huseen has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving without a licence and failing to stop.
Marcus Fakana (above) died in the car crash exactly three months after being freed from prison
Marcus died after a car he was passenger in crashed at The Roundway (above, general view)
Marcus’s family campaigned (above) to bring him home earlier this year while he was in prison
Huseen, 19, will appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court today.
But for Marcus’s family, the pain has been described as ‘too much’ by one heartbroken person close to them.
They wrote online: ‘God give Crispin and Marie strength, the pain is too much. Rip Marcus you left your mummy in pain baby.’
Another commented below the post: ‘I know some people might say it doesn’t matter how he passed away, but all I know is that we all hoped and prayed for him to pull through, and then suddenly he was gone. Please, make it make sense. I’m confused.’
‘Too young to die. When I heard that sad news early on tonight. My heart just sunk in pain, felt useless.
‘Ooh God! I feel for your your dad, mum, your uncles, your aunties, your cousins, your sisters n brother. May your soul rest in perfect peace Marcus,’ a third added.
His death has come as a shock to many, as one wrote: ‘Omg this poor boy went though hell. So sad how long had he been out R.I.P.’
In a devastating vigil for the young boy, dozens of friends and family gathered at a home were seen sobbing, as many also put their heads down to commemorate their loved one.
Marcus’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief among those who followed the case of his imprisonment, which came about after the mother of the girl he was in a relationship with discovered messages between the pair.
Marcus (left) is pictured with his family who are said to be in ‘too much’ emotional pain now
Raphaella Stirling (above) said Marcus was ‘grateful for the kindness of the British public’
Radha Stirling said she was ‘heartbroken’ following Marcus’s death after assisting him in Dubai
She then reported Marcus to the UAE authorities bringing widespread attention and outrage, highlighting the Gulf state’s harsh laws which critics say criminalise personal relationships and disproportionately target foreign nationals.
But with the help of his family campaign – which saw them march through the streets of Westminster – and his lawyers in the UAE and Detained in Dubai, Marcus was released in July.
At the forefront of assisting him was Detained in Dubai founder and lawyer, Radha Stirling, who today told the Daily Mail she was heartbroken to hear of the teenager’s death.
She said: ‘I came to know Marcus as he faced one of the most frightening experiences of his life, and I witnessed his strength and courage throughout.
‘He was grateful for the compassion shown to him by the British public, and his experiences gave him a renewed focus on Christianity and prayer.
‘Marcus was thankful to have regained his freedom and was looking forward to building a positive future. My heartfelt condolences go to his family and friends at this difficult time.’
Ms Stirling added: ‘Marcus spent the majority of this year in a Dubai prison which no doubt caused him long lasting mental anguish. It’s sad that of all of 2025, he was only free for the three months from the 3rd of July until the 3rd of October.
‘It wasn’t necessary for him to be in prison at all. He could have been deported instead. David Lammy and the FCDO caused Marcus and his family no end of grief, refusing to effectively help him as the Foreign Minister.
‘It’s sad that he had to go through this in what would be the last months of his life.’
Raphaella Stirling, Detained in Dubai’s Crisis Manager, added: ‘Marcus had only been released from prison earlier this year.
‘Despite everything he endured, he was grateful for the kindness of the British public, and he embraced his freedom with renewed faith, joy, and hope for the future.’
Marcus (above) spent seven months in Al Awir prison before being granted a royal pardon
Marcus was freed from the prison – dubbed the ‘Middle East’s Alcatraz’ in July this year
Marcus’s family marched in Westminster earlier this year to demand his release from Dubai
His family held signs reading ‘Justice for Marcus’ and ‘Bring our boy back home!’ in January
During his nightmare ordeal, Marcus also spoke exclusively to the Daily Mail from the UAE where he begged Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: ‘Please give me my life back’.
Marcus apologised for breaking the law and described his ‘devastation’ at the year long sentence.
He said: ‘My family and I are devastated and in shock. I never intended to break the law. It didn’t occur to me at the time and for that, I’m sorry.
‘I am asking His Highness… to please forgive me and pardon me. Let me go home. Please give me my life back’.
His parents had been appealing to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the British Embassy in Dubai for assistance in advocating for his release.
After arriving home this summer, Ms Stirling had said Marcus was ‘recovering’.
She added: ‘His case has attracted significant public attention due to concerns about the criminalisation of tourists and disproportionate sentencing.
‘We believe this case highlights the urgent need for expedited legal processes for foreign nationals and safeguards against unnecessary custodial sentences.’
Marcus’s nightmare ordeal began when in August after he and the 17-year-old girl, just a month short of her 18th birthday, began a holiday romance in the £210-a-night Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah, where their families were both staying.
After the girl and her family returned to the UK, her mother reported Marcus to the Dubai authorities, where he was initially accused of rape – which was cleared after police reviewed hotel CCTV footage which showed the girl going into his hotel bedroom at 4am.
The Met say the Directorate of Professional Standards was informed about the car crash, as was the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), in line with standard practice.
