HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a former Malvern St James student after her murderer was sentenced to death in the Lebanese capital of Beirut.
Uber taxi driver Tarek Houshieh had already confessed to the ‘senseless’ attack on 30-year-old Rebecca Dykes, whose body was found dumped by the side of a highway in December 2017. She had been strangled with a rope, with choke marks found on her neck.
Lebanese judges routinely call for death sentences in cases of murder, however the country has an unofficial temporary ban on such punishments and has not carried out an execution since 2004.
After graduating from Malvern Girls’ College, which is now called Malvern St James Girls’ School after the merger with West Malvern’s St James’ School in 2006, Miss Dykes went on to study anthropology at the University of Manchester before completing a Masters in International Security and Global Governance at Birkibeck, University of London.
In a statement, a school spokesman said: “Rebecca’s legacy has been recognised as remarkable and inspiring to our current pupils, as someone who so often put the needs of others before her own and worked to create a better world.
“She was an exemplary pupil and will always be remembered fondly by staff and fellow students.”
The 30-year-old had been working in Beirut since January 2017 as the programme and policy manager for the Department for International Development (DFID).
British Embassy chiefs in Beirut paid their own tribute to a ‘talented, devoted humanitarian, whose skill, expertise, and passion improved the lives of many people’.
“She was an impassioned advocate for those who most need support, a true friend of Lebanon, and an outstanding representative for the UK. She had an exciting, bright future ahead of her,” the statement read.
“Becky was also a hugely popular member of the British Embassy in Beirut. Her energy, smile, determination, kindness, and positivity are fondly remembered by all.”
While expressing the hope the court’s decision would provide a degree of closure for Miss Dyke’s family and welcoming the guilty verdict, embassy chiefs stressed the UK government’s continued opposition to the death penality in all circumstances.
“The British Embassy would like to thank the many Lebanese authorities and officials who have responded to Becky’s murder with the utmost professionalism and compassion,” the statement added.
“We are also grateful to the individuals, foundations, and organisations that have kept Becky’s memory alive and continue her good work.
“Becky was much loved and is deeply missed. The Embassy would like to take this moment to express its deep and continued sympathy with Becky’s colleagues, friends, and above all, her family.”
Since Miss Dykes’ death, her family has set up the Rebecca Dykes foundation to support and fund projects such as community cohesion in Lebanon.
Visit www.rebeccadykesfoundation.com for more.
