George Michael 's bereaved partner has been fined for criminal damage after graffitiing a threatening message across a historic religious building.
Fadi Fawaz, who claims he was the one to discover the late star's lifeless body on Christmas Day 2016, was fined £420 following his actions which saw him spray paint 'kill Fawaz' on a 13th century church wall 'because he hates his family'.
The 45-year-old splashed a message urging his brother to die on the wall of one of St Katherine Cree church on Leadenhall Street on February.
He was spotted by a security guard enjoying a cigarette break, who says he heard Fadi shouting by the historic London church, going on to witness him spray painting ‘Die Fawaz’ and another unintelligible word on the wall.
A nearby police officer was called over to the scene and went on to arrest Fadi - who claimed he did not know his actions were illegal.
Speaking on behalf of the prosecution, David Burns said: "It is a matter of criminal damage which took place on the 24 February 2021 at the St Katherine Cree Church on Leadenhall Street."
Security guard Yilnaz Gunes also issued a statement about his involvement in witnessing the incident.
"I saw the male walk towards the church and the male stopped at the building and he was writing something on the wall," he said, before added that the offending words sprayed in red paint read: "Die Fawaz".
PC Paul Don, who was flagged down by the security guard, said in his statement that he discovered Fadi sitting by a bench not far from the church where he sprawled his message.
"I asked the male “did you write something on the church”, the officer explained in his statement.
"He replied yes and told me he didn’t know it was illegal," he added.
Fadi admitted the to law enforcement that he had graffitied the church and his words were in reference to his brother, who he claims to be a terrorist.
The arresting officer also revealed that he saw the same words painted on the back of Fadi's jacket.
Prosecutor David Burns explained that following his interview the same day, Fadi claimed he was unaware that his actions were illegal.
"He said he didn’t know the wall was part of the church and said he didn’t know it was an offence and it was illegal."
He added: "He said he spray painted the wall because he hates his family."
Magistrate chair Kirsteen Walker ordered Fadi, who was not present at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday,to pay £420 in compensation
The sentencing in his absence comes after the 45-year-old failed to appear in court for a third time.
The hairdresser, who has worked with the likes of supermodel Naomi Campbell in the past, has had a number of brushes with the law following singer George's death in 2016.
The stylist failed to show up in court multiple times after he smashed a beauty salon window on 21 December 2020.
He was eventually fined £800 for criminal damage earlier this year at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court.
