Martine Vik Magnussen, who was 23 when she was killed. Farouk Abdulhak is the only suspect in the long-running case

A YEMENI billionaire’s son, who fled the country following the alleged murder of a young woman, could finally be extradited after admitting for the first time he was involved in her death and claiming it was the result of a “sex accident gone wrong”.

Farouk Abdulhak had not been recorded saying anything about Martine Vik Magnussen’s death until a series of text and phone messages were published as part of a BBC investigation.

The body of Ms Magnussen, who was 23, was found in March 2008 buried under a pile of rubble in the basement of a block of flats in Great Portland Street where Mr Abdulhak was living. An inquest at Westminster Coroner’s Court in 2010 recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.

Police believe the Norwegian Regent’s Park Business School student was raped and strangled by Mr Abdulhak following a night out with friends in Mayfair celebrating end-of-term exams.

He is the only suspect in a long-running case that has been hamstrung by Britain and Yemen having no extradition agreement.

Farouk Abdulhak [Metropolitan Police/PA]

BBC News Arabic special correspondent Nawal Al-Maghafi exchanged messages and had phone calls with the fugitive over several months. In one, published as part of a BBC documentary, Mr Abdulhak wrote: “I deeply regret the unfortunate accident that happened. I regret coming here [Yemen]. Should have stayed and paid the piper. It was just an accident. Nothing nefarious… Like I told you, just a sex accident gone wrong.”

He said he was not ready to return to this country of his own accord as “it’s too cold there”, adding: “I don’t like the weather… I don’t think justice will be served. I find that the criminal justice system there is heavily biased.

“I find that they will want to make an example of me being a son of an Arab, being… a son of someone rich.”

Martine’s father Odd Petter Magnussen this week praised the “fantastic news” saying it would likely lead to his arrest. He recalled how: “This was no accident, as he now says. I have seen the police post-mortem report. This is a brutal murder and rape, the worst crime a man can commit on a woman. It fills me with anger.”

Mr Magnussen has campaigned for 15 years for justice for his daughter.

• The This World: Murder in Mayfair investigation was aired on BBC2 on Tuesday at 9pm.