A 19-year-old man has appeared in court accused of causing the death of a London teenager, Marcus Fakana, who had recently been released from jail in Dubai after serving a sentence related to a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl.
Marcus Fakana, aged 19 and from Tottenham, tragically died in hospital in the early hours of Friday. His death followed a police chase that ended in a car crash when the vehicle he was traveling in failed to stop for officers. The incident shocked local residents and raised questions about the events leading up to the fatal crash.
According to police reports, officers attempted to stop a “vehicle of interest” in Pretoria Road, N18, during a routine patrol around 00:52 hours. The vehicle did not comply, prompting a short pursuit lasting about 60 seconds. However, police said they temporarily lost sight of the vehicle before locating it again on The Roundway, N17. There, it was found to have collided with another vehicle.
The police force stated, “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.” Emergency services responded promptly, but despite efforts, Marcus Fakana succumbed to his injuries.
The driver of the vehicle, Marwaan Mohamed Huseen, 19, also from Tottenham, was arrested and charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving without a license. He appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on the following Saturday and was remanded into custody. His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, 30 October, at the Old Bailey.
Following the tragic event, police confirmed that Marcus Fakana’s family is receiving support from specialist officers, recognizing the immense emotional strain such a loss has caused.
The backstory to Marcus Fakana’s recent struggles adds a poignant layer to this incident. Earlier in the year, when he was 18, Marcus had been jailed in Dubai after being convicted for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl—an act considered illegal under Dubai law, where the age of consent is higher. Marcus was sentenced to a year in prison but was later granted a royal pardon in July by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Radha Sterling, chief executive of the campaign group Detained in Dubai, expressed deep sorrow at the news of Marcus’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.”
Details about the incident reveal that Marcus had been in the United Arab Emirates with his parents from the end of August 2024, during which a “holiday romance blossomed” with another Londoner, who has since turned 18. The relationship reportedly came to light after Marcus returned to the UK, when the girl’s mother saw pictures and messages that led her to report the relationship to Dubai police. This prompted the authorities there to arrest Marcus at his hotel.
In Dubai’s legal context, adults can face prosecution for engaging in sexual relationships with individuals under the age of 18, classified as minors. This highlights the strict nature of UAE’s statutes compared to laws in some other countries.
The Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed about the circumstances of the crash, as has the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which oversees complaints and incidents involving police officers.
This complex case intertwines issues of international law, youth safety, and the tragic consequences of dangerous driving, leaving many concerned about the broader implications for those involved and their communities.
