The mother of British teacher Lauren Patterson who is in Doha to attend the retrial of the man previously convicted of Lauren’s murder said she was speechless after learning that a second man, who assisted in covering up the crime, had already been released from prison.

Alison Patterson posted on her Facebook page from Qatar: “All I can say at the moment is nothing. I have no words.”

Mohamed Abdallah Hassan Abdul Aziz had been found guilty of helping to burn 24-year-old Lauren Patterson’s body and hiding evidence and was sentenced to three years’ jail in 2014. But it emerged yesterday that he has already been released from prison.

Mrs Patterson from West Malling told the local English language paper in Doha, the Doha News: “It is extremely distressing to think that he may now be free, walking among the population of Qatar, possibly out socialising alongside other people’s daughters and sisters.

“He has never shown remorse for his part in burning her body beyond recognition.”

The last sighting of Lauren alive was in October 2013 when she left the La Cigale nightclub in Dohar with Abdul Aziz and Badr Hashim Khamis Abdallah al-Jabr.

In March 2014, al-Jabr was convicted of her murder and sentenced to death. He appealed but the conviction was upheld by Qatar’s Court of Appeal.

However, when the case was taken to Qatar’s highest court the verdict was overturned and a re-trial ordered.

The first day of the new hearing was yesterday (Sunday).

Prosecutors argued that al-Jabr had taken Miss Patterson home for sex and then killed her by stabbing her twice.

It was alleged that Al-Jabr and Abdul Aziz then put the body in the trunk of a car and drove to a remote part of the desert where they burned her remains.

Al-Jabr’s defence lawyers claimed the death had been an accident. They said confessions made by the two men earlier had been made under duress.

The Doha News reported that yesterday the judges agreed that they would see a videotaped re-enactment of al-Jabr’s version of events at a later hearing. The tape had already been shown at one of the earlier hearings.

It showed al-Jabr struggling with a male policeman, playing the role of Lauren Patterson.

The re-trial is set to continue on June 5.

Mrs Patterson of Leybourne Chase was gifted more than £30,000 in public donations to help her fly out for the trial and campaign for justice.

Lauren Patterson’s body was found burned beyond recognition in a pit in 2013. A knife was still lodged in her rib cage.

Miss Patterson had been living in Qatar for several years where she was teaching in a primary school.

Her mother said she had been: “A bubbly, fun-loving girl and had a real trust in everyone. She deserves justice.”