Saudi Arabia sentences five to death for Khashoggi killing

Saudi Arabia sentenced five people to death for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to multiple reports. 

The public prosecutor’s office said Monday that the five men had been sentenced to death for direct involvement in the killing of Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist, The New York Times reported. 

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Three others were given a total of 24 years in prison for covering up the crime and violating other laws, according to the Times.

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All can reportedly appeal the verdicts. 

Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October, 2018 after writing columns critical of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. 

The names of the sentenced men were not released, but Saudi Arabia said that the crown prince’s top aide, Saud al-Qahtani, was not tried because of a lack of evidence against him, the Times noted. The U.S. imposed sanctions on al-Qahtani last November over his alleged involvement in Khashoggi’s killing. 

Last November, the CIA concluded that the crown prince ordered the killing of Khashoggi.

The crown prince has said he played no role in the killing but bore responsibility because it happened on his watch, the Times noted.

–This report was updated at 7:41 a.m.