In a tragic turn of events, a driver has admitted causing the death of Marcus Fakana, the British teenager whose imprisonment in Dubai drew international attention. The fatal crash occurred in north London following a police pursuit, marking a heartbreaking end to Fakana's brief period of freedom after his release from overseas detention.
Courtroom Admission and Charges
Marwaan Mohamed Huseen, aged 20, pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court to causing Fakana's death by dangerous driving. Appearing via video link from HMP Pentonville, he admitted multiple offences including causing death by dangerous driving, driving without a licence, driving without insurance, and failing to stop after the incident.
The Fatal Collision Details
The collision happened in the early hours of 3 October last year in Tottenham. Prosecutors revealed that Huseen was driving a BMW away from pursuing Metropolitan Police officers when the vehicle crashed into a lorry. Fakana, who was 19 years old and a passenger in the BMW, was taken to hospital where he later died from his injuries. A second passenger sustained serious injuries in the crash.
Police statements indicate that officers had attempted to stop what they described as a "vehicle of interest" on Pretoria Road before briefly losing sight of it. When they arrived on The Roundway moments later, they discovered the car had already been involved in the collision. Huseen was arrested at the scene and has remained in custody since the incident.
A Life Marked by International Legal Troubles
Fakana's death came just three months after he returned to the United Kingdom from Dubai, where he had spent almost a year in prison. His overseas ordeal began in the summer of 2024 when he travelled to the United Arab Emirates with his parents. While there, aged 18, he entered what was described as a holiday romance with a 17-year-old girl from London.
Although such a relationship would have been legal in the UK, where consensual sexual relationships are permitted from age 16, it breached UAE law which criminalises any sexual relationship involving a person under 18. Reports suggest the relationship had been kept secret due to the girl's family's strictness, with plans to continue seeing each other back in the UK.
Dubai Imprisonment and Release
The case came to the attention of Dubai authorities after the girl's mother discovered photographs and messages on her daughter's phone. Fakana was subsequently arrested and sentenced to a year in prison. His detention sparked widespread attention in Britain, with protests calling for his release. He was ultimately freed on 3 July last year after receiving a royal pardon from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.
Reactions and Legal Proceedings
Radha Sterling, chief executive of the campaign group Detained in Dubai which had lobbied for Fakana's release, expressed profound sorrow at news of his death. "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," she stated.
Sterling added that Fakana had been "grateful for the compassion shown to him by the British public" following his release. She revealed that his experience in prison had led him to embrace Christianity and prayer, and despite his ordeal, he had maintained hope about his future prospects.
Sentencing for Huseen has been adjourned, with a further hearing scheduled for 27 February when the court is expected to set a date for sentencing. The case continues to highlight the complex intersection of international legal systems and personal tragedies that can span continents.
