A millionaire businessman has been accused of murdering his British girlfriend in a hotel room before fleeing the country.
Nadine Aburas, 28, was found dead at the Future Inn in Cardiff Bay on New Year’s Eve by hotel staff.
The accused, 44-year-old Sammy Almahri, is alleged to have strangled his British girlfriend in the Cardiff hotel before driving to Heathrow Airport and flying to Qatar.
Cardiff Crown Court was told this week that Almahri, a New York businessman, met Aburas on dating site MuslimMatch.com in 2013.
Prosecuting Roger Thomas QC said: “They became friendly and contacted each other regularly by telephone, text and Skype.
“The friendship developed and though her family can’t recall the exact date, it’s clear Mr Almahri visited Nadine on two or three occasions in 2013 and she travelled to New York to see him in the summer of 2014.
“There can be no doubt their friendship developed into an intimate relationship.”
The court also heard that Aburas had previously told police that Almahri had raped her, and tried to strangle her, in New York.
Aburas was found by hotel staff of the Future Inn on New Year’s Eve.
After he fled to Qatar, Almahri was arrested by police in Tanzania on 19th January, before being brought back to Britain.
The prosecuting team said Almahri admitted to killing the 28-year-old, but is claiming diminished responsibility, saying he “heard the voice of god telling him to kill.”
Roger Thomas QC said: “We submit quite simply this was the killing of a defenceless woman by a jealous and dangerous man.”