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Saudi Arabia overturns death sentences for murder of Jamal Khashoggi
- Slain journalist’s fiancée condemns final ruling as ‘farce’, while UN expert slams decision as ‘parody of justice’
- Khashoggi – a royal family insider turned critic – was killed and dismembered at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul in October 2018
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A Saudi court on Monday overturned five death sentences over journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder in a final ruling that was condemned by his fiancée and slammed by a UN expert as a “parody of justice”.
Eight unnamed defendants were handed jail terms of between seven and 20 years in a verdict that comes after Khashoggi’s sons “pardoned” the killers in May, paving the way for a less severe punishment.
The court ruling underscores Saudi efforts to draw a line under the October 2018 murder as the kingdom seeks to reboot its international image ahead of November’s G20 summit in Riyadh.
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“Five of the convicts were given 20 years in prison and another three were jailed for seven to 10 years,” the official Saudi Press Agency said, citing a spokesman for the public prosecutor.
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Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s final moments revealed
Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s final moments revealed
None of the defendants were named in what was described as the final court ruling on the murder, which triggered an international outcry and tarnished the global reputation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
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