The brother of the slain aid worker, David Haynes, said he was ready to stare into the eyes of Islamic State terrorists who killed his brother and sister when he came face to face with them for the first time in court.
Mike Haynes is in the United States to read a statement about the impact of the victim, while Londanese Alexandra Kotei has been convicted of her role in the murder of four hostages by the terrorist cell.
The group, dubbed The Beatles because of its English accent, is said to be made up of leader Mohamed Emuazi, known as Jihadi John, Ain Davis, El Shafi Elsheikh and Kotei, and is responsible for the brutal killings of a number of Western captives. , believed to include Britons Alan Henning and David Haynes.
The charges against Kotei and his co-defendant Elsheikh, who was convicted after the trial this month, include only U.S. victims, but he and Elsheikh will appear in court in Virginia on Friday when the families of those killed by the terrorist cell go to court. for their collective loss.
Image: Alexanda Kotey (left) with El Shafee Elsheikh
Elsheich is expected to be convicted at a later date.
Mr Haynes, a RAF veteran and former mental health nurse, said: “In some ways I’m obviously quite nervous, and in others I’m looking forward to looking them in the face, drawing a line behind what happened.
“And this is the real reason (I) went out to read my statement of influence in court – to draw a line in the sand and say:” Yes, you played a big role in my family’s life, you focused on family life. we.
“But now that stops.”
Image: David Haynes Memorial Service in 2014
Demonstrating his rejection of hatred, Mr Haynes added: “What I would like to hear, although I don’t think it will ever happen, is for Koti to say: ‘I’m sorry, what we did was wrong . ‘
“And if that happened,” (he said) “What we were doing was not about Islam … it was about spreading terror,” then I would actually shake his hand.
Elsheich, Kotei and Emvazi knew each other in England before joining the IDF.
Elsheikh was captured along with Kotei in Syria in 2018 by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces as he tried to flee to Turkey.
“Look him in the eye”
Davis was in prison in Turkey and Emvazi was killed in a drone strike, while Kotei pleaded guilty last year to eight counts of involvement in a hostage conspiracy.
Mr Haynes of Dundee, Scotland, said he would enjoy the opportunity to sit down with Kotei to “look him in the eye and tell him he had been misled”.
Mr Haynes’ 44-year-old younger brother was captured by extremists in Syria in March 2013 while delivering aid to a war-torn country.
His assassination the following year shocked the world when a video of his barbaric execution was used as Beatles propaganda.
The family still does not know what happened to the body.
Read more: Who are the Islamic State fighters nicknamed the Beatles?
But Mr Haynes, who runs the educational charity Global Acts Of Unity in honor of his brother, said it was “not important” for him to find out where David’s remains were.
“Wherever David’s remains lie, whatever is done to them … David is still walking with me,” he said.
“At the end of the presentation, I feel him pat me on the back and say, ‘Good.’
“My brother is walking with me, but I don’t need his remains to grieve.”
Haynes, 55, said he was still affected by terrorist attacks around the world and was in fact in Manchester on the night of the suicide bombing at the Arena, which killed 22 people in 2017.
He said: “Every time we hear about an attack, there is sadness in our hearts because we know that this club we belong to has just expanded – this club that no one wants to be a part of. family members and relatives, wounded, maimed or killed in a terrorist act.
“However, what we have seen over and over again is the way people react to terrorist attacks.
“What we are trying to do with Global Acts of Unity is to show that if we react with hatred, extremists and terrorists win. And they will not win.
Kotei is expected to receive a life sentence, but can still be taken to the United Kingdom to stand trial for the deaths of Mr Haynes and Mr Henning.
Add Comment