This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/19/jealous-and-dangerous-new-yorker-strangled-uk-student-nadine-aburas-jury-hears

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
'Jealous and dangerous' New Yorker strangled UK student, jury hears 'Jealous and dangerous' New Yorker strangled UK student, jury hears
(35 minutes later)
A millionaire New York businessman strangled a British student in a hotel room after meeting her on a dating site, a jury has been told.A millionaire New York businessman strangled a British student in a hotel room after meeting her on a dating site, a jury has been told.
Nadine Aburas, 28, was found on New Year’s Eve by staff at a hotel in Cardiff hours after her killer, Sammy Almahri, fled in her car to drive to Heathrow airport and flew to the Middle East in an attempt to escape justice, it is claimed.Nadine Aburas, 28, was found on New Year’s Eve by staff at a hotel in Cardiff hours after her killer, Sammy Almahri, fled in her car to drive to Heathrow airport and flew to the Middle East in an attempt to escape justice, it is claimed.
Almahri, 44, had hung a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door of room 203 of the Future Inn before allegedly fleeing abroad.Almahri, 44, had hung a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door of room 203 of the Future Inn before allegedly fleeing abroad.
He has admitted manslaughter but denies murder, claiming voices in his head told him to kill the young woman.He has admitted manslaughter but denies murder, claiming voices in his head told him to kill the young woman.
However, Roger Thomas, prosecuting, said: “This was the killing of a defenceless woman by a jealous and dangerous man.”However, Roger Thomas, prosecuting, said: “This was the killing of a defenceless woman by a jealous and dangerous man.”
The court heard Aburas, who lived alone in her own flat in Cardiff Bay, met Almahri on an internet dating site aimed at Muslim people.The court heard Aburas, who lived alone in her own flat in Cardiff Bay, met Almahri on an internet dating site aimed at Muslim people.
Thomas said: “They became friendly and contacted each other regularly by telephone, text and Skype. The friendship developed. It’s clear Almahri visited Nadine two or three times in 2013 and she travelled to New York to see him in the summer of 2014.”Thomas said: “They became friendly and contacted each other regularly by telephone, text and Skype. The friendship developed. It’s clear Almahri visited Nadine two or three times in 2013 and she travelled to New York to see him in the summer of 2014.”
Jurors were told Almahri was “besotted” with Aburas, showering her with money and expensive presents.Jurors were told Almahri was “besotted” with Aburas, showering her with money and expensive presents.
Thomas said: “There can be no doubt their friendship developed into an intimate relationship.”Thomas said: “There can be no doubt their friendship developed into an intimate relationship.”
But the court heard that Aburas – described as “slim and petite” – “suffered violence” during the relationship. But the court heard that Aburas – described as “slim and petite” – “suffered violence” during the relationship. She called police to say she had been raped by Almahri in New York and claimed he had also attempted to strangle her. She began to see other men in Cardiff.
She called police to say she had been raped by Almahri in New York and claimed he had also attempted to strangle her. She began to see other men in Cardiff.
The court heard that Almahri became “increasingly jealous” and bombarded her with abusive messages, warning her: “You will be in hell.”The court heard that Almahri became “increasingly jealous” and bombarded her with abusive messages, warning her: “You will be in hell.”
Almahri travelled from the US to see Aburas and booked into the Future Inn hotel near her home on 30 December 2014.Almahri travelled from the US to see Aburas and booked into the Future Inn hotel near her home on 30 December 2014.
Shortly after 3am on 31 December, Almahri left the hotel, travelled in Aburas’s car to Heathrow airport and took a flight to Doha in Qatar.Shortly after 3am on 31 December, Almahri left the hotel, travelled in Aburas’s car to Heathrow airport and took a flight to Doha in Qatar.
Aburas’s body was found at about 12.20pm on New Year’s Eve by the duty manager and police were called in. Aburas’s body was found at about 12.20pm on New Year’s Eve by the duty manager and police were called.
The court heard that Almahri was eventually located in Tanzania and arrested on an Interpol arrest warrant before being returned to Britain.The court heard that Almahri was eventually located in Tanzania and arrested on an Interpol arrest warrant before being returned to Britain.
Cardiff crown court heard he has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder. Cardiff crown court heard he has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder. Almahri claims he was suffering from an “abnormality of mental function”. He claims he heard “the voice of God” telling him to kill.
Almahri claims he was suffering from an “abnormality of mental function”. He claims he heard “the voice of God” telling him to kill.
Thomas said: “We submit quite simply this was the killing of a defenceless woman by a jealous and dangerous man.”Thomas said: “We submit quite simply this was the killing of a defenceless woman by a jealous and dangerous man.”
The court heard Almahri claimed he worked and travelled on behalf of the FBI but Thomas said: “That seems to be fictitious.”The court heard Almahri claimed he worked and travelled on behalf of the FBI but Thomas said: “That seems to be fictitious.”
The court was told that during their two-year relationship, Almahri gave Aburas mobile phones and a car.
But he became obsessed and compiled a “minute by minute” account of what she was doing – monitoring her movements from the other side of the Atlantic. When he discovered she had seen another man, he sent her messages calling her a “hooker” and a “whore”, the court was told.
He sent her a phone message of her naked saying: “I am going to post these around Facebook you hoe.” The court heard the message was seen by one of her brothers.
In the run-up to the killing, the brother, Aman, told Almahri to leave his sister alone and drove him to the railway station.
Instead of leaving the Welsh capital, he bought a bottle of gin before going to the Future Inn hotel. She agreed to meet him and the pair went to a restaurant, where they argued.
Later when her body was found her hands were placed across her chest with her hands interlocked. The court heard that it appeared her body had been washed.
Almahri tried to pretend she had killed herself – and that he had assisted her suicide, the jury was told. A note found in the room was addressed to Almahri and began “Sorry, have come to an end, I love you” – and was signed “Nadine”.
Thomas said: “In various conversations he suggested Nadine committed suicide and he said he helped her because she effectively couldn’t live without him.”
The trial continues.The trial continues.