A British influencer facing death by firing squad was ‘living the life’ in Dubai and treated well by the man she is accused of stabbing to death, a friend has claimed.

Brooke George, 23, says William Treeby lured her to the Gulf with promises of luxury and a modelling career before confiscating her passport.

George, a former John Lewis worker from Gravesend, claims she had booked a flight home when Mr Treeby became violent, prompting her to stab him with a kitchen knife that was close to hand.

She was arrested as she tried to board a flight to London on Monday. She has been charged with murder and may now face the death penalty.

Human rights group Detained in Dubai has taken up her case and claims the death in his luxury apartment followed an alleged assault, insisting George acted in self-defence as she tried to ‘escape’ him.

But a friend of Mr Treeby, speaking anonymously, dismissed her account and described the 26-year-old as ‘a good guy with a big heart’.

He accused George and her team of trying to ‘make him out to be some scumbag’.

‘I don’t believe he had her passport. He was treating her well - she was living the life,’ he said.

George claims Mr Treeby initially swept her off her feet before becoming controlling. She alleges he confiscated her passport and punched her in the face when she asked for it back.

But his friend questioned her version of events, saying: ‘If he was controlling and bad, why did she fly out for the second time four days before the incident?’

George claims Mr Treeby assaulted her in a car after a night out at Caffreys Bar in Jumeirah Village before continuing the attack at his flat.

Fearing for her life, she says she grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed him.

His friend finds it hard to accept this account, claiming the pair had a ‘petty argument’ in a pub and were ‘both guilty’ of being violent.

‘He left her and went home,’ he said, adding he believes she followed shortly afterwards and stabbed him to death in his flat.

William's death is yet another tragedy for his devastated family – after his father was murdered by his own brother and two nephews.

Jack Treeby, 43, was killed by relatives in a deliberate hit-and-run attack following a property dispute within the family in 2009, it emerged today.

Jack's older brother Bill and his sons, Billy and George, were convicted of murder after he was mowed down by their Range Rover near Maidstone shortly after Christmas.

Bill later took his own life in prison. 

Almost 17 years on, Jack's widow Karen – who described him as a 'wonderful' husband and father – has now lost her son William, from Rainham, in similarly violent circumstances.

She wrote on Facebook: 'My darling son, I'm broken. Rest in forever peace, my Bill. You will be so missed and loved by us all. We will never forget you and will keep your memory alive always.'

William's sister Esther added: 'He was not only my brother but my best friend. I love you, my Bill. Forever 26.' 

George’s family say she met Mr Treeby during a trip to Dubai in May after connecting on Facebook. Mr Treeby, who appeared to drive a Rolls-Royce, was ‘very nice’ to her and arranged a professional beach photoshoot.

But on George’s return to the UAE in June, she said he took her passport and attacked her when she asked for it back.

Her mother said her ‘terrified’ daughter called her in a ‘state of panic’ and was ‘desperate to get home and away from whatever had happened to her’.

Thereza George said she spoke to her daughter before and after the stabbing. She added: ‘The day before the incident, she wasn’t herself. She was quieter than usual but wouldn’t tell me why. That evening they went to a bar in Dubai. When I spoke to Brooke right after the incident, she was absolutely terrified.

‘I have never seen my daughter so frightened. She was crying uncontrollably. I could see one of her eyes was badly swollen and beginning to close.

‘As Brooke’s mother, I am deeply concerned for her welfare. The daughter I spoke to that night was utterly terrified. I firmly believe she was trying desperately to get home and away from whatever had happened to her.’

George claims Mr Treeby assaulted her in a car after a night out at Caffreys Bar in Jumeirah Village before continuing the attack at his flat.

Fearing for her life, she says she grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed him.

Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai, is supporting George and says she could face a firing squad if convicted.

She said the case reflected a disturbing pattern of young British women being lured to Dubai with promises of romance and luxury, only to be exploited – sometimes sexually.

Ms Stirling said: ‘Authorities must treat her as a domestic violence survivor while they investigate. Brooke maintains she acted in genuine fear for her safety after a violent assault.

‘We will ensure her rights are protected and that she receives a fair trial.’

George is thought to be at the Bur Dubai police station and should be granted bail by authorities in the emirate.

Her family claim she was forced to strip naked in front of male officers, denied legal representation and left unable to understand proceedings due to a language barrier. Mr Treeby’s family said they were ‘heartbroken’.

His sister Esther wrote on social media: ‘He was not only my brother but my best friend. I love you, my Bill. Forever 26.’

His mother Karen said: ‘My darling son, I’m broken. Rest in forever peace, my Bill. You will be so missed and loved by us all. We will never forget you and will keep your memory alive always.’

The Foreign Office said: ‘We are in touch with a British woman detained in the UAE. We are supporting her family and are in contact with the local authorities.’