Saudi prince is quizzed over death of aide at the Landmark Hotel in Marylebone Road

Published: 19 February 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

A SAUDI prince’s aide who was strangled in a Marylebone hotel room had allegedly been attacked there two weeks earlier.

Detectives are questioning the 33-year-old prince after he was arrested on ­suspicion of murdering the man at the Landmark hotel on Marylebone Road on Monday.

The pair had been staying at the hotel for the past month, reportedly visiting the capital on a shopping trip.

CCTV footage handed to police by staff of an earlier incident involving the victim in an alleged assault is being examined by detectives. Scotland Yard said post mortem results show he died as a result of “manual compression of the neck” and a head injury. Police have been granted more time to question the suspect by a magistrate. 

The House of Saud has more than 6,000 members, but there are only around 200 princes who are close to King Abdullah.