A billionaire's son who is accused of raping and murdering a 23-year-old student has confessed his involvement in the incident for the first time. Martine Magnussen was found dead under rubble in a basement 14 years ago in London after she and Farouk Abdulhak were recorded on CCTV leaving Maddox nightclub together on March 14, 2008.
Abdulhak, who is on the Met Police's most wanted list, fled the UK and has remained in his home country of Yemen ever since. But he has now finally admitted playing a role in Martine's death in what he claims was a 'sex accident gone wrong'.
He is the son of Shaher Abdulhak, who was one of the richest and most powerful men in Yemen before his death in 2020, the Mirror reports.
Martine had been celebrating the end of her exams at Regent's Business School and was due to return home to Norway that week. She had stayed at Abdulhak's flat nearby but her housemates called her family when she did not come home for 24 hours.
Police found a trail of blood from Martine's body to Abdulhak's flat, where there were signs of a struggle that suggested she had been raped and strangled. An inquest in 2010 recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.
Abdulhak, now 35, has never spoken of his involvement before now and told the BBC that Martine's death was a 'sex accident gone wrong', despite the coroner determining it was a violent death. A BBC investigation into the case lead to a journalist speaking directly with Abdulhak where he made shocking confessions.
When asked about returning to the UK to face the consequences of Martine's death, Abdulhak said: "I don't think justice will be served.
"I find that the criminal justice system there [in the UK] is heavily biased. I find that they will want to make an example of me being a son of an Arab, being… a son of someone rich… it's way too late."
When asked what exactly led to Martine's death, he said: "It was just an accident. Nothing nefarious. Just a sex accident gone wrong." He claims he struggles to piece together what happened that night and has put the blame down to 'cocaine' use.
This is the first time Abdulhak has ever spoken of his involvement in this detail before but he told the BBC he's been advised against turning himself in, which he said would only cause further pain to Martine's family.
Last year, the Mirror spoke to Martine's father, Odd Petter Magnussen, who continues to beg Abdulhak to return to the UK and face his punishment. He said: "All I’ve ever wanted from Abdulhak is for him to return voluntarily to the UK to tell the police what happened to Martine that night.
"He could do that and later become a free man, rather than staying a fugitive in Yemen where he will never have his freedom. That is the very simple demand I have.
"Go back to the UK, talk to the police, tell them what happened."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
