Death penalty demanded over killing of British Beirut embassy worker
An investigative judge has demanded the death penalty for the suspected killer of a British embassy worker whose body was found near Beirut two months ago, Lebanese judicial officials said.
Hanna Breidi, a type of government prosecutor, issued an indictment on Thursday demanding the maximum penalty for Tarek Houshi, accusing him of raping Rebecca Dykes before strangling her with a rope, the officials said.
They alleged that Uber driver Houshi raped and killed Ms Dykes in Beirut, then threw her body off a road east of the capital.
Ms Dykes was found dead on December 16 on the side of a road, strangled and reportedly showing signs of sexual assault.
The 30-year-old was working in Lebanon as a programme and policy manager for the Department for International Development.
Houshi, 29, was arrested days later.
Breidi referred Houshi to the criminal court.
