US Politics | Brit, 30, raped and murdered by Uber driver before her body was dumped while working abroad
A BRITISH woman working abroad was raped and brutally murdered by an Uber driver before he dumped her body, an inquest has heard. Rebecca Dykes, 30, was picked up by Tariq Houshieh in December 2017 following a ...girl's night out... at a popular tourist bar in Beirut, Lebanon. 
Rebecca Dykes was raped and brutally murdered by a Uber driver in Lebanon 
Rebecca had been working in the Lebanese capital since January 2017 
Houchiye was arrested over the rape and murder of Rebecca Dykes \- he confessed to the crimes But after she got into the cab, Houshieh raped her, strangled her to death with a cord from his hoodie and dumped her body by the side of the road. Rebecca had been working for the Department for International Development helping Lebanon to cope with refugees from the war in Syria. Her body was found near a road on December 16, 2017, with choke marks around her neck. Read More in World News 
RESORT HORROR Brit woman, 45, dies & husband critical after speedboat crash at busy resort 
SHIP HAS SAILED Jeff Bezos' £400m superyacht moved in the middle of night after bridge row Houshieh was handed a death sentence in 2019 \- but is appealing to have it commuted, reports MyLondon. And it was revealed that he was working as a taxi driver \- despite having a criminal record and twice being arrested for alleged harassment and theft, according to Agence-France Presse. At a much delayed inquest into her death at the Inner South London Coroner's court in Southwark on Wednesday, senior coroner Andrew Harrison quizzed British embassy in Beirut post security officer Alyson King about the security arrangements in place as he considered the need for a prevention of future deaths report. Alyson noted staff have a security brief on arrival, carry personal alarms, have monthly security meetings, regular workshops, and women's only sessions. Most read in US News CODE RED China 'convinced it needs to hit US with Pearl Harbor-style strike' over Taiwan 'EXTREME DANGER' Police alert over mom who vanished with husband and his 2 young kids UP IN FLAMES Infant & pregnant woman among 5 dead in fiery crash with 8 others hospitalized 'BARGAINING CHIP' Brittney Griner's guilty verdict may spark mini-Cold War, experts warn AIR THREAT China flies 22 jets into Taiwan airspace after firing 11 missiles in war drills STAR SENTENCED Brittney Griner sentenced to NINE YEARS in Russian prison on drug charges In 2017 staff were also advised to only use three vetted taxi companies for personal travel \- this meant anything done outside of the secure arrangements made for work. These three firms were covered in the security brief, the court heard. But she admitted: ...It came to light afterwards, many staff were using other taxi companies when they found them convenient.... Coroner Harrison pressed her on the issue, and said: ...That suggested the brief was inadequate or not accepted as necessary...Were you satisfied with the adequacy of the briefing?... Alyson said ...yes... but added they continue to update the briefing. Coroner Harrison continued the grilling by asking how her response tallied with ...extensive use of none approved taxi firms at that time.... Alyson said she was not in post at the time and would have to check meeting records to see if the issue was brought up. Coroner Harrison suggested Rebecca's family would ...deeply appreciate... an answer and encouraged them to consult the Foreign & Commonwealth Office after the hearing. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office head of security Bharat Joshi said a special security visit after Rebecca's death concluded the ...security culture was very very strong.... Baffled by the claim, coroner Harrison asked: ...If the security culture was so strong why were so many staff using unregistered taxi services?... Joshi responded, telling the court many staff ...choose to not follow that advice.... He also noted ...many people had been using Uber across Lebanon and there had never been a serious incident.... He explained this was due to the ...familiarity... of Uber as a global brand and convenience. He recalled complaints by staff using the three vetted cab companies they had to wait ...15-20 minutes.... In an emotional speech via video link, Rebecca's mum Jane Houng said: ...I just hope that no parent has to go through what we have had to go through. ...One thing that pained me very much was that now embassy staff wear personal alarms. ...I think if Rebecca had been wearing a personal alarm at that point in time it probably would have saved her life. ...When I went to Lebanon shortly after her death and sat around the table with Rebecca's friends and colleagues they all said they used Uber. It was common place for personal travel.... Read More on The Sun 
WHAT THE QUACK I got 0.5mm of lip filler but regret it so much, I look like a duck 
VANTASTIC Mum-of-22 Sue Radford shows reality of motorhome holiday with her kids Making his conclusion of unlawful killing, coroner Harrison summed up the ...deeply tragic... hearing and said there were ...gaps in understanding... of the security arrangements at the time. But, he noted ...great steps were taken... in the five years since and it was ...a matter for security... as ...nothing in life is risk free.... He added: ...The risks are known and the steps have been taken....
Rebecca Dykes was raped and brutally murdered by a Uber driver in Lebanon Rebecca had been working in the Lebanese capital since January 2017 Houchiye was arrested over the rape and murder of Rebecca Dykes \- he confessed to the crimes But after she got into the cab, Houshieh raped her, strangled her to death with a cord from his hoodie and dumped her body by the side of the road. Rebecca had been working for the Department for International Development helping Lebanon to cope with refugees from the war in Syria. Her body was found near a road on December 16, 2017, with choke marks around her neck. Read More in World News RESORT HORROR Brit woman, 45, dies & husband critical after speedboat crash at busy resort SHIP HAS SAILED Jeff Bezos' £400m superyacht moved in the middle of night after bridge row Houshieh was handed a death sentence in 2019 \- but is appealing to have it commuted, reports MyLondon. And it was revealed that he was working as a taxi driver \- despite having a criminal record and twice being arrested for alleged harassment and theft, according to Agence-France Presse. At a much delayed inquest into her death at the Inner South London Coroner's court in Southwark on Wednesday, senior coroner Andrew Harrison quizzed British embassy in Beirut post security officer Alyson King about the security arrangements in place as he considered the need for a prevention of future deaths report. Alyson noted staff have a security brief on arrival, carry personal alarms, have monthly security meetings, regular workshops, and women's only sessions. Most read in US News CODE RED China 'convinced it needs to hit US with Pearl Harbor-style strike' over Taiwan 'EXTREME DANGER' Police alert over mom who vanished with husband and his 2 young kids UP IN FLAMES Infant & pregnant woman among 5 dead in fiery crash with 8 others hospitalized 'BARGAINING CHIP' Brittney Griner's guilty verdict may spark mini-Cold War, experts warn AIR THREAT China flies 22 jets into Taiwan airspace after firing 11 missiles in war drills STAR SENTENCED Brittney Griner sentenced to NINE YEARS in Russian prison on drug charges In 2017 staff were also advised to only use three vetted taxi companies for personal travel \- this meant anything done outside of the secure arrangements made for work. These three firms were covered in the security brief, the court heard. But she admitted: ...It came to light afterwards, many staff were using other taxi companies when they found them convenient.... Coroner Harrison pressed her on the issue, and said: ...That suggested the brief was inadequate or not accepted as necessary...Were you satisfied with the adequacy of the briefing?... Alyson said ...yes... but added they continue to update the briefing. Coroner Harrison continued the grilling by asking how her response tallied with ...extensive use of none approved taxi firms at that time.... Alyson said she was not in post at the time and would have to check meeting records to see if the issue was brought up. Coroner Harrison suggested Rebecca's family would ...deeply appreciate... an answer and encouraged them to consult the Foreign & Commonwealth Office after the hearing. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office head of security Bharat Joshi said a special security visit after Rebecca's death concluded the ...security culture was very very strong.... Baffled by the claim, coroner Harrison asked: ...If the security culture was so strong why were so many staff using unregistered taxi services?... Joshi responded, telling the court many staff ...choose to not follow that advice.... He also noted ...many people had been using Uber across Lebanon and there had never been a serious incident.... He explained this was due to the ...familiarity... of Uber as a global brand and convenience. He recalled complaints by staff using the three vetted cab companies they had to wait ...15-20 minutes.... In an emotional speech via video link, Rebecca's mum Jane Houng said: ...I just hope that no parent has to go through what we have had to go through. ...One thing that pained me very much was that now embassy staff wear personal alarms. ...I think if Rebecca had been wearing a personal alarm at that point in time it probably would have saved her life. ...When I went to Lebanon shortly after her death and sat around the table with Rebecca's friends and colleagues they all said they used Uber. It was common place for personal travel.... Read More on The Sun WHAT THE QUACK I got 0.5mm of lip filler but regret it so much, I look like a duck VANTASTIC Mum-of-22 Sue Radford shows reality of motorhome holiday with her kids Making his conclusion of unlawful killing, coroner Harrison summed up the ...deeply tragic... hearing and said there were ...gaps in understanding... of the security arrangements at the time. But, he noted ...great steps were taken... in the five years since and it was ...a matter for security... as ...nothing in life is risk free.... He added: ...The risks are known and the steps have been taken....
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