‘Voice of God’ told millionaire New York businessman to strangle his British girlfriend after they met on Muslim dating site
The millionaire had lavished his girlfriend with expensive gifts before allegedly turning violent
A MILLIONAIRE businessman strangled his British girlfriend to death after meeting her on a Muslim dating site, a court heard.
Pretty Nadine Aburas, 28, was found dead by hotel staff on New Year's Eve - hours after Sammy Almahri allegedly fled abroad.
A court heard how the 44-year-old New York businessman put a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door at Future Inns before taking Nadine's car to drive to Heathrow Airport.
He claims he was suffering from "abnormality of mental function" and was hearing "the voice of God" telling him to kill Nadine.
Cardiff Crown Court heard he pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder.
The pair met on internet dating site MuslimMatch.com and Almahri showered Nadine with gifts and money.
But the relationship allegedly turned sinister after 5ft 3ins Nadine returned to her Cardiff home with a busted lip.
She was also concerned that Almahri would show topless pictures to her family.
The court heard that Almahri had topless photographs, which may have been taken "against her wishes" during an online Skype conversation.
Mr Thomas said at one point the defendant had sent her a text message saying "I'm going to post these on Facebook you motherf****** ho".
Abusive messages read to the jury included one from Almahri when he discovered Nadine had gone on a date saying: "You will be so sorry ... I know your (sic) with someone else."
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The court heard Almahari became "increasingly jealous" then began bombarding her with abusive messages.
He is said to have warned Nadine, who started seeing other men in her hometown: "You will be in hell."
Nadine called police to say she had been raped by Almahri in New York - and claimed he had also attempted to strangle her.
Prosecutor Roger Thomas said"They became friendly and contacted each other regularly by telephone, text and Skype.
"The friendship developed. It's clear Almahri visited Nadine two or three times in 2013 and she travelled to New York to see him in the summer of 2014."
Jurors heard how Almahri travelled from the US and booked into the Future Inns hotel near her home on December 30, 2014.
After drinking nine tequilas in the bar, Nadine arrived at the hotel and the pair later went to the Lilo Grillhouse - where restaurant staff described them as shouting and arguing during a 50-minute stay.
CCTV footage then showed the couple returning to the hotel at around 11.10pm - which Mr Thomas said was the last time Nadine was seen alive.
Shortly after 3am, he left the hotel and travelled in her car to Heathrow where he was booked on a 10.35am flight to Doha in Qata.
Nadine's body was found at around 12.20pm on New Year's Eve by the duty manager and police were called in.
The court heard Almahri as eventually located in Tanzania and arrested on an Interpol arrest warrant on January 19 before being returned to Britain.
He originally tried to pretend Nadine had killed herself and that he had assisted her suicide, jurors were told.
A note found in the room was addressed to Almahri and began "Sorry, have come to an end, I love you" - and was signed "Nadine".
Mr Thomas said: "In various conversations in the next few days, he suggested Nadine committed suicide and he said he helped her because she effectively couldn't live without him.
"He was seeking to establish Nadine hadn't been killed but he had assisted her suicide."
The prosecutor said Almahri claimed he had had sex with Nadine before she asked him to put his belt around her neck.
He said she told him she loved him before hanging herself with the belt.
The court heard Almahri claims he is not guilty of murder because his responsibility is diminished.
Mr Thomas said: "We submit quite simply this was the killing of a defenceless woman by a jealous and dangerous man."
The court heard Almahari claimed he worked and travelled on behalf of the FBI - but Mr Thomas said: "That seems to be fictitious."
The trial at Cardiff Crown Court - expected to last four weeks - continues.
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