0:00:00 > 0:00:00- Subtitles
0:00:00 > 0:00:02- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:00:08 > 0:00:09- Secrets...
0:00:11 > 0:00:13- ..lies...
0:00:14 > 0:00:15- ..deceit...
0:00:15 > 0:00:17- ..violence.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21- Every criminal case is a distinct - challenge for the detective.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30- Discovering the truth, - takes patience and curiosity.
0:00:38 > 0:00:39- Tonight...
0:00:39 > 0:00:43- ..I'm researching the international - hunt for an American...
0:00:43 > 0:00:47- ..after his girlfriend's body - was found at a Cardiff hotel.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53- We knew that he would be landing - in Qatar in 38 minutes.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59- South Wales Police relate their - efforts to speak to him by phone.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12- I will talk to the girl's family - in Cardiff about their loss.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16- It's a sentence that I feel...
0:01:16 > 0:01:19- ..I'm going to have to live - through each and every day.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45- Cardiff Bay, December 2014.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51- While thousands - were getting ready...
0:01:51 > 0:01:54- ..to congregate in the city - on New Year's Eve.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59- ..a sinister case had landed on the - desks of South Wales detectives.
0:02:11 > 0:02:16- The manager of the Future Inns hotel - had made an astonishing discovery.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29- He'd entered Room 203, - and inside the room...
0:02:29 > 0:02:33- ..he found a woman's body - lying in the bed.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35- At the bedside, - there was a note...
0:02:36 > 0:02:39- ..which made him think - that she'd killed herself.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42- So, he called the police.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45- This footage was filmed - by the forensic team...
0:02:46 > 0:02:48- ..after they were called - to the hotel.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53- At first glance, the circumstances - of the death were unclear.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57- The room itself - was an ordinary hotel room.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01- As you walked in, - there was a bathroom on one side...
0:03:01 > 0:03:05- ..and inside the bathroom, there - were wet towels on the floor.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09- As you walked into the room - itself...
0:03:09 > 0:03:13- ..there were empty bottles - of alcohol on the side.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17- In the bed, was the body of a woman.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19- All you could see was her head.
0:03:19 > 0:03:24- The bedclothes had been pulled up - to her nose.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29- Near the bed, a note had been left - containing the words...
0:03:30 > 0:03:35- .."Sorry we came to an end. - I love you."
0:03:36 > 0:03:41- When I first looked at her, - I couldn't see any injuries.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45- When the bedclothes were removed - from her body...
0:03:45 > 0:03:48- ..it looked as if - she had been placed in the bed.
0:03:50 > 0:03:55- When we examined her face and neck, - we found red marks...
0:03:55 > 0:03:57- ..on her cheek and on her neck.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04- It was clear to us - that something was wrong...
0:04:04 > 0:04:07- ..and that something else - had happened in that room.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12- In the bag, there were bank cards.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18- These confirmed that the body - in the bed was Nadine Aburas.
0:04:23 > 0:04:28- She lived fewer than 100 metres from - the hotel in a flat in Cardiff Bay.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32- Her family lived about a mile away.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37- Detectives went to their home - to break the news.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46- The feeling was indescribable. - It was horrible.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50- It was like I wasn't even there - anymore.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53- That part of me had gone - with Nadine.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57- Nadine Aburas was 28 years old.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00- They were a very close family.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06- He said that she'd gone.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16- I said, "That's it. He's done it." - I knew.
0:05:18 > 0:05:23- The mother immediately suspected - that Nadine's boyfriend...
0:05:23 > 0:05:25- ..was responsible for her death.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28- A man named Sammy Almahri.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37- The hotel confirmed...
0:05:38 > 0:05:40- ..that Room 203 - had been booked in his name.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44- At the time, - we didn't know much about him.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47- We knew that he was American...
0:05:47 > 0:05:51- ..but we didn't know much more - than that.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55- He was 45 years old - and lived in New York.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00- But any other information about him - was limited.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05- He purported to be in the FBI - to Nadine's family.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07- A successful businessman.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09- There were lots of different - stories.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13- The truth was he lived in a basement - flat in New York.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17- He worked either in a grocer's shop - or as a limo driver.
0:06:19 > 0:06:25- The couple met online in 2012 - on a website called MuslimMatch.com
0:06:25 > 0:06:28- They started a relationship.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33- In 2013, he came here to Cardiff - to visit Nadine...
0:06:34 > 0:06:38- ..and during the summer of 2014, - Nadine went to New York to meet him.
0:06:38 > 0:06:43- But, after returning from New York, - Nadine contacted the police.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48- She said that - she had been raped there.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56- He brutally attacked her - and violated her.
0:06:56 > 0:07:01- He photographed her - in various forms...
0:07:01 > 0:07:04- ..and states of undress.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07- She suffered a horrific time...
0:07:07 > 0:07:10- ..which she tried to keep from us - when she returned.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16- He had threatened to share the - pictures of her on the Internet.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20- At the time, Nadine didn't take - her complaint any further.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24- But now, this evidence was valuable - to the detectives.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27- The marker on our records - indicated...
0:07:27 > 0:07:32- ..that he may have been someone - who was violent towards her...
0:07:32 > 0:07:36- ..and that's when it became - a murder investigation.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40- A post-mortem examination - revealed...
0:07:41 > 0:07:45- ..that there were 17 marks - and bruises on Nadine's body.
0:07:45 > 0:07:50- The evidence on her neck showed - that she had been strangled.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57- But there was no sign - of Sammy Almahri.
0:07:57 > 0:08:02- Detectives were now racing to gather - evidence of all his movements.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08- They discovered that he'd arrived - in London on December 27...
0:08:09 > 0:08:13- ..and had met Nadine there and - travelled to Cardiff the next day.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21- The CCTV pictures showed the couple - arriving at Nadine's flat.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28- On December 30, Sammy Almahri - quarrelled with her brothers.
0:08:30 > 0:08:35- They asked him to leave Cardiff and - escorted him to the railway station.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39- But he never got on the train.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45- He bought a bottle of gin, - took a taxi back to Cardiff Bay...
0:08:46 > 0:08:48- ..and booked a room - at the Future Inns.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53- He phoned Nadine from the hotel...
0:08:54 > 0:08:58- ..and said that he had left - his passport in her flat.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07- At nine o'clock that night...
0:09:08 > 0:09:11- ..CCTV cameras show Nadine - arriving at the hotel...
0:09:11 > 0:09:13- ..before going to his room.
0:09:15 > 0:09:20- We know from the CCTV footage and - from people working at the hotel...
0:09:20 > 0:09:25- ..that the couple had left - and gone to City Road for a meal.
0:09:27 > 0:09:32- They went to a restaurant - where Nadine used to work.
0:09:32 > 0:09:38- We know that they were arguing - in the restaurant on City Road.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47- At eleven o'clock, - they arrived back at the hotel.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57- These are the last images - of Nadine Aburas alive.
0:10:09 > 0:10:14- Just after midnight, Almahri left - and went to the Grosvenor casino.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20- He registered at reception, before - going to the bar to drink tequila.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25- Then he returned to the hotel...
0:10:25 > 0:10:29- ..and ordered two bottles of beer - to take to his room.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37- At three in the morning, - Almahri left the hotel...
0:10:37 > 0:10:40- ..after asking for directions - to the M4.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50- He drove to Heathrow - in Nadine's car.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55- He parked the car in Terminal 5.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08- But, by the time detectives - received this evidence...
0:11:08 > 0:11:09- ..it was too late.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14- Sammy Almahri was on a plane - to Qatar.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18- To be honest, there was - something of a panic...
0:11:19 > 0:11:21- ..because we knew that - within 38 minutes...
0:11:22 > 0:11:24- ..he would be landing in Qatar.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27- You have to remember - that it was New Year's Eve...
0:11:27 > 0:11:31- ..and he was arriving - in a totally different country.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37- We needed an international arrest - warrant, we needed Interpol.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40- All things that take time - on a normal day...
0:11:40 > 0:11:44- ..but on New Year's Eve, - practically impossible.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46- He landed without being arrested.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50- He had managed to escape.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53- That's when I hit rock bottom.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57- I thought, "That's it, he's gone, - he's got away with it.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00- "He's left the country. - He's murdered my daughter.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02- "That's it, it's the end."
0:12:02 > 0:12:05- We wanted justice for Nadine...
0:12:05 > 0:12:09- ..and we needed to know that this - person couldn't hurt anybody else.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14- He caught another flight - to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20- From there, there was a risk - that he could disappear altogether.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26- To know where your suspect is, - to know where they're going...
0:12:26 > 0:12:29- ..and to be able - to do nothing about it...
0:12:29 > 0:12:33- ..is probably one of the most - frustrating periods I've ever had.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39- The police now suspected - that Almahri was in Tanzania.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43- It was a race to catch him, - before he disappeared again.
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0:12:49 > 0:12:49- Subtitles
0:12:49 > 0:12:51- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:12:55 > 0:12:56- New Year's Day, 2015.
0:12:57 > 0:13:02- It wasn't a good start to the year - for South Wales Police detectives.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06- The day after the body - of Nadine Aburas was found...
0:13:07 > 0:13:08- ..at a hotel in Cardiff...
0:13:09 > 0:13:14- ..the man suspected of her murder - had escaped to Africa.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18- Detectives turned to the media - and made a public appeal...
0:13:18 > 0:13:21- ..entreating him to give himself up.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23- Sammy, please...
0:13:23 > 0:13:27- ..I am asking you, - as Nadine's mother...
0:13:29 > 0:13:32- ..please hand yourself in - to the authorities...
0:13:32 > 0:13:37- ..and please help us - find the answers that we need...
0:13:37 > 0:13:41- ..so we can let Nadine - rest in peace.
0:13:43 > 0:13:44- But there was a ray of hope.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48- He had taken Nadine's phone - with him.
0:13:49 > 0:13:55- Fortunately for us, he was still - using Nadine's mobile phone.
0:13:55 > 0:14:00- Because of this, we were aware - of his general location...
0:14:00 > 0:14:02- ..and so we could focus...
0:14:02 > 0:14:06- ..on where the mobile phone - was being used.
0:14:08 > 0:14:13- The data from the phone - and from the use of his bank card...
0:14:13 > 0:14:16- ..confirmed that he was still - in Tanzania.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20- Detective Gareth Morgan decided - to telephone him.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59- He alleged that Nadine was still - alive when he left the hotel.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03- He also said that he'd helped her...
0:15:03 > 0:15:06- ..to try and strangle herself - with a belt.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23- He was very erratic - in those conversations.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27- It was very difficult to understand - whether he was intoxicated.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30- He was certainly irrational.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33- It was clear to me - that he was lying.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55- But the detectives knew - that Almahri was in Tanzania.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01- On January 2, - Sammy Almahri phoned them back.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04- This time, he had company.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34- I think Sammy Almahri played a game - from the start.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36- Negotiation showed that.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38- There were times - during negotiation...
0:16:39 > 0:16:43- ..when he had other women - on the line and in the background.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45- He made threats - to kill other people.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48- He teased and taunted me, really.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13- He contacted the family - several times too.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18- He'd call us using Nadine's phone.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21- He didn't even bother - having that respect.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25- He'd call us from a nightclub - and leave a voicemail.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27- We could hear music.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30- It was so horrible. - It was a horrible experience.
0:17:30 > 0:17:35- It was as though murdering my sister - wasn't enough for him.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37- He had to torment us further.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50- Almahri had left his own phone - at Nadine's flat.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54- The detectives sent it - for forensic examination.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02- I went to meet the digital experts - at Sytech...
0:18:03 > 0:18:05- ..who were asked to work - on the case.
0:18:05 > 0:18:10- They explained to me how they - take phones apart and restore data.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15- The first thing we do is to strip it - down like this.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19- Then we take it down to the circuit - board and expose the chips.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23- We would take off this chip - and it would look like this then.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27- May I pick it up?
0:18:29 > 0:18:32- This little card can hold - a lot of information.
0:18:32 > 0:18:33- Yes.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37- We can retrieve things - such as text messages, calls...
0:18:37 > 0:18:39- ..web history and photos.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41- We can also retrieve deleted data.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47- On Almahri's phone, there was - special software called spyware.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50- He could read - and watch everything...
0:18:51 > 0:18:53- ..on Nadine's phone from his phone.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59- You can read SMS messages, - you can look at photos, videos...
0:19:00 > 0:19:03- ..the handset's location data - and things like that.
0:19:04 > 0:19:09- Also on Almahri's phone, were - threatening texts and messages.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15- We knew that Sammy Almahri - was a jealous and possessive man...
0:19:15 > 0:19:18- ..and that he liked - to control Nadine.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21- We obtained evidence - from his phone...
0:19:22 > 0:19:26- ..a message that he'd originally - left threatening her.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29- Those threats - were excellent evidence...
0:19:30 > 0:19:32- ..in showing the motive - for this crime.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43- South Wales detectives - travelled to Tanzania...
0:19:43 > 0:19:46- ..to help police there - search for him.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50- They followed the movements - of Nadine's phone...
0:19:50 > 0:19:52- ..around the country - trying to catch him.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56- Information from the phone - led the police to a rural area...
0:19:56 > 0:19:58- ..about ten hours - from Dar es Salaam.
0:19:59 > 0:20:05- There, on January 19, - local police found him on a farm...
0:20:05 > 0:20:07- ..near the town of Iringa.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14- He was arrested and held in custody.
0:20:15 > 0:20:20- Two months later, he was transported - from Tanzania to Wales.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25- I think it was a major coup - to capture Sammy Almahri...
0:20:25 > 0:20:28- ..as quickly as we did, - given the circumstances.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32- We brought him back. - We extradited him from Tanzania.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35- This had never been done - between the two countries.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39- The speed and efficiency with which - that was done was remarkable.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45- We were so happy and relieved that - he didn't get to torment us anymore.
0:20:46 > 0:20:51- And that he had to deal with - the consequences as he should.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05- At Cardiff Crown Court, - in October 2016...
0:21:06 > 0:21:09- ..Sammy Almahri confessed - to manslaughter...
0:21:09 > 0:21:11- ..but denied murdering Nadine.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15- He said that he suffered - from a mental illness...
0:21:15 > 0:21:19- ..and that he'd killed her - after hearing voices in his head.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21- He said that it was - the voice of God.
0:21:21 > 0:21:26- But, unexpectedly, on the second day - of the trial, he changed his mind.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30- He pleaded guilty to murder.
0:21:33 > 0:21:38- On November 3, the judge sentenced - him to life imprisonment.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42- He will serve a minimum - of seventeen years in prison.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54- The family were disappointed - not to get a full trial.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59- They wanted the world - to know the truth...
0:21:59 > 0:22:01- ..about what the American had done.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06- I have anger. I have sadness.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10- I have deep feelings...
0:22:10 > 0:22:16- ..that a mother should never - have to feel.
0:22:17 > 0:22:22- When a child is taken - so violently from her...
0:22:23 > 0:22:27- ..it's a sentence that I feel...
0:22:28 > 0:22:32- ..I'm going to have to live through - each and every day.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38- Nadine Aburas was studying Art - at college.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41- She'd hoped to take up a career - as a designer.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46- Her family treasure the memories - they have of her.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50- I want people to remember that she - was really witty and stubborn.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53- She was smart and she had - all of these talents...
0:22:53 > 0:22:56- ..and I wish people - could have witnessed that.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59- I don't want her memory - to be defined by his actions...
0:23:00 > 0:23:03- ..because she was more than her end.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06- She was more than the tragedy - that caused her end.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09- She was a woman of great kindness - and leadership.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13- She was somebody that you would be - honoured to be in her presence.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48- S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.
0:23:48 > 0:23:49- .