A 19-year-old has appeared in court accused of causing the death of a London teenager who was jailed in Dubai for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl. Marcus Fakana, 19, from Tottenham, died in hospital in the early hours of Friday after a crash following a police chase when a vehicle he was in failed to stop for officers. Police said officers were attempting to stop a "vehicle of interest" in Pretoria Road and, after a short pursuit, police temporarily lost sight of the vehicle.
Officers then drove into The Roundway and found the vehicle had been involved in a crash with another vehicle. The force said in a statement:
"Police were on patrol at around 00:52hrs when they attempted to stop a vehicle of interest on Pretoria Road, N18."After pursuing the vehicle for around 60 seconds, police temporarily lost sight before locating the vehicle on The Roundway, N17, where it had been involved in a collision."Officers were supported by the London Ambulance Service and the London Air Ambulance, and a 19-year-old man was taken to hospital, where he sadly died.”The alleged driver of the vehicle, Marwaan Mohamed Huseen, 19, of Argyle Road, Tottenham, appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Saturday, charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence.
He was remanded into custody and will next appear at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 30 October. Police said Mr Fakana’s family is being supported by specialist officers. Mr Fakana, who was 18 at the time of the relationship in Dubai, received a royal pardon from Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in July after being sentenced to one year in prison. Radha Sterling, chief executive of campaign group Detained in Dubai, said she was "heartbroken" at the news of Mr Fakana's death. She said: "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." Mr Fakana had been with his parents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from the end of August 2024 when a "holiday romance blossomed" with another Londoner, who has since turned 18, Detained in Dubai previously said. After returning to the UK and seeing pictures and messages, the girl's mother reported the relationship to Dubai police, who then arrested Mr Fakana at his hotel, it is alleged.
In Dubai, if an adult has a sexual relationship with a person under 18, they can be prosecuted for having a sexual relationship with a minor. The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards was informed about the incident, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).