Lauren mum 'a step closer to justice' as killer faces death penalty

A man found guilty of killing a young teacher from Kent in Qatar has had an appeal against his death sentence rejected.

It should mark the end of a four year legal battle for the family of Lauren Patterson, after she was found dead after a night out in Doha in 2013.

Burnt remains of the 24-year-old from West Malling were found in a desert pit- a knife still lodged in her ribcage.

Today the death penalty has been upheld on the killer Badr Hashim Khamis Abdallah al-Jabr

Lauren's mother Alison Patterson has fought a long campaign to get justice for her daughter, involving dozens of journeys to the Middle East.

In March 2015 al-Jabr was sentenced to death for the murder, but in February 2016 the country’s court of appeal ordered a re-trial.

It meant a prolonged and painful court ordeal for Alison, who today posted on the Facebook page'Justice for Lauren':

Miss Patterson, from Leybourne Chase, was teaching at a primary school in the capital Doha when she disappeared on a night out.