Saudi Arabia opens Khashoggi murder trial

Saudi Arabia opens Khashoggi murder trial

Saudi journalism Jamal Khashoggi (file photo) - AFP

Prosecutors in Saudi Arabia say they will seek the death penalty for five defendants accused of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

By Nathan Morley

The killing of Jamal Khashoggi caused outrage throughout the world.

Now, the trial of 11 individuals over the murder of the Saudi journalist has begun in Saudi Arabia. The accused have not been named, nor have the charges been publicly revealed.

Reports from the country say prosecutors have asked for the death penalty for five of the defendants.

The journalist was killed after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul late last year.

Even though Khashoggi had been critical of the Salman government, Saudi Arabia denied killing him and initially said he left the building unharmed.

Then the story changed, and prosecutors said he was murdered in a ‘rogue’ operation by government agents sent to persuade him to return to the kingdom.

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