Tell me where my dad’s body is
Aid worker’s daughter brands guilty plea ‘‘a psychotic game’
THE daughter of murdered Scots aid worker David Haines yesterday said an Isis “Beatle” who pleaded guilty to terror charges in the US should now tell her where her dad’s body is.
Bethany Haines, from Perth, watched as Briton Alexanda Amon Kotey admitted conspiring to abduct and behead Western hostages over a link from a court in Virginia yesterday – almost seven years to the day since her dad was first paraded in horrifying videos released by Isis.
The 24-year-old, who has previously been to Syria in search of her dad’s remains, said the plea was a “psychotic game”.
She wants Kotey, 37 – one of a gang of four Isis militants nicknamed “the Beatles” by their captives due to their British accents – to remain in jail in the US, after the court heard he could be transferred to the UK to plead guilty and serve a life sentence here.
She told the Record: “I don’t think we expected him to be the one to fold. But I don’t think his plea was brave or impressive. I think he has his own reasons for doing so and I think we will end up suffering long term in some shape or form.
“I think he knows where the bodies are but he’s stating he wasn’t at the executions. There is no firm evidence but I strongly believe he was there and he’s holding on to that because we can’t prove otherwise.
“I think it’s all part of his psychotic game. His plea doesn’t change anything for me.”
David, 44, was helping refugees when he was captured in 2013. He was held captive before being beheaded by Mohammed Emwazi – aka Jihadi John – in September 2014.
Sickening images of the killing were turned into Isis propaganda.
If he is not given a life term, Kotey will complete the sentence in the US or in the UK.
Bethany said: “It’s written into his plea deal so there’s a strong possibility he will return but he should stay over there for good.”
Speaking of her mission to bring home her dad’s remains, she added: “As soon as Covid is over, hopefully I can get back across to Syria.”