Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

This is one of the saddest news stories I’ve seen - Dubai Teen

15 replies

anothermondayyy · 04/10/2025 15:32

Marcus Fakana, the 18 year old who was jailed in Dubai for having sex with a 17 year old has been killed in a car crash. AIBU to think this is one of the saddest news stories I’ve seen in a while. Heart goes out to his mum.

Teen jailed in Dubai dies after London police chase https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3e7yyjw77qo

Marcus Fakana is wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and tie stands indoors against a beige wall. He is facing the camera with his hands clasped in front of him. A door and light switch are visible on either side.

Marcus Fakana: Teen jailed in Dubai dies in London police chase

Marcus Fakana, who was jailed for having sex with a 17-year-old girl, dies after a pursuit in Tottenham.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3e7yyjw77qo

OP posts:
bluecrochetedplane · 04/10/2025 15:37

I think there are 2 threads on this already but yes, totally agree. If took my breath away when I read it this morning, what a tragedy all round. So so sad, I feel for his parents.

TheDeftSwan · 04/10/2025 16:02

I don’t get shocked by many things but I was by this. So sad and what a terrible last year of his life. It’s like that movie final destination where you cannot escape your fate

CalmShaker · 05/10/2025 02:43

Sad so young yes without doubt.
But he was in a passenger in a stolen car when it crashed, you have to take responsibility for the situations you put yourself.
I'll say no more or speak ill of the dead.

Lalaloope · 05/10/2025 10:29

Stolen car? Where has this been reported?

The driver was arrested for no licence and insurance plus dangerous driving (or something of the sort) and failure to stop. No mention of car theft.

Screamingabdabz · 05/10/2025 10:33

Actually although it’s sad, it’s certainly not the saddest. Seeing Sophie Wessex in the operation room of a 5 year old rape victim in the Congo on the front of the Sunday Times this morning and reading the sheer statistics of child rape - that’s the saddest news.

GloryFades · 05/10/2025 10:34

It is sad, but just as sad as any other teenager that gets killed in a car chase.

I really don’t get the sympathy with him for the Dubai thing. If someone came here from a country where 12 was the age of consent and started having sex with 13 year olds there would be uproar even though the perpetrator would not necessarily understand they were doing anything legally or morally wrong.

Presumably the UAE see what he did as equally as morally reprehensible.

But yes, it is a sad, wasted and stolen life. But by no means the saddest thing I’ve ever seen. Particularly not in a news cycle that includes Palestinian children and terror attacks on synagogues.

Lalaloope · 05/10/2025 10:39

I remember Sarah Everard threads on here and how posters were calling it the saddest tragedy ever. Anyone mentioning something worse was piled on, told how cruel they were to mention something else on her threads as whataboutism, and basically shut down.

Hopefully Marcus's death threads get the same respect. Death is death. Tragedy is tragedy. It's not a race to the bottom.

There will always be worse cases of incidents, including Palestinian and synagogue ones. I could name a few. I doubt most people don't know this so I fail to see why it's being pointed out here.

Sometimeswinning · 05/10/2025 10:51

Lalaloope · 05/10/2025 10:39

I remember Sarah Everard threads on here and how posters were calling it the saddest tragedy ever. Anyone mentioning something worse was piled on, told how cruel they were to mention something else on her threads as whataboutism, and basically shut down.

Hopefully Marcus's death threads get the same respect. Death is death. Tragedy is tragedy. It's not a race to the bottom.

There will always be worse cases of incidents, including Palestinian and synagogue ones. I could name a few. I doubt most people don't know this so I fail to see why it's being pointed out here.

Edited

With all due respect Sarah Everard was taken by a police officer raped, strangled and her body dumped. You can’t begin to compare.

This is terribly sad and a waste of a young life.

RosePetalsRose · 05/10/2025 10:52

It is very sad. What is even sadder are the nasty laughing emojis and racist comments on the facebook articles.

Lalaloope · 05/10/2025 10:53

Not comparing method of death. As I said, there are worse cases than Sarah's just as hers is worse than Marcus's but death is death. Bringing up random information to...I don't know minimise his death?... is appalling just as it would be to Sarah or anyone else who tragically died by being killed whether through dangerous driving or police murder! Both were innocent.

Sometimeswinning · 05/10/2025 10:58

Lalaloope · 05/10/2025 10:53

Not comparing method of death. As I said, there are worse cases than Sarah's just as hers is worse than Marcus's but death is death. Bringing up random information to...I don't know minimise his death?... is appalling just as it would be to Sarah or anyone else who tragically died by being killed whether through dangerous driving or police murder! Both were innocent.

Edited

No, it’s probably more to do with his actions and choices. We don’t know enough to say he was completely innocent or if his friend just lost it and was acting completely out of character.

If a 91 year old died of natural causes in his sleep. It would be sad. A young lad dying in this circumstance with his background is a lot sadder.

RosePetalsRose · 05/10/2025 11:02

Over 400 people laughing at the death of a 19 year old. Its disgusting.
Facebook/ The daily express should ban every one of those trolls.

This is one of the saddest news stories I’ve seen - Dubai Teen
CalmShaker · 05/10/2025 20:30

Lalaloope · 05/10/2025 10:29

Stolen car? Where has this been reported?

The driver was arrested for no licence and insurance plus dangerous driving (or something of the sort) and failure to stop. No mention of car theft.

Apologies I thought I read it was a stolen car, either way, that's quite a list of breaking the law.

luckylavender · 05/10/2025 20:32

GloryFades · 05/10/2025 10:34

It is sad, but just as sad as any other teenager that gets killed in a car chase.

I really don’t get the sympathy with him for the Dubai thing. If someone came here from a country where 12 was the age of consent and started having sex with 13 year olds there would be uproar even though the perpetrator would not necessarily understand they were doing anything legally or morally wrong.

Presumably the UAE see what he did as equally as morally reprehensible.

But yes, it is a sad, wasted and stolen life. But by no means the saddest thing I’ve ever seen. Particularly not in a news cycle that includes Palestinian children and terror attacks on synagogues.

Not the same thing at all

coxesorangepippin · 06/10/2025 01:56

His poor family is all I can say

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread