Saudi prosecutor demands death penalty for five suspects in Khashoggi case, reports state news agency

A prosecutor in Saudi Arabia has called for the death penalty for five of the 11 suspects held in connection with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October.

The demand came during the first court hearing over the Washington Post journalist’s murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last year, according to state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The agency gave few details about the case except that the 11 suspects, none of whom were named, gathered at the first day of the hearing with their lawyers.

Prosecutors sent a request to Turkey for evidence collected in Istanbul, which Ankara has so far not responded to, SPA reported.

But Turkish authorities have previously said they have shared evidence with Saudi Arabia and other countries on the matter.

Khashoggi was a vocal critic of the Saudi regime, spearheaded by its powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the murder came as a hammer blow to Salman’s reputation on the world stage.

The kingdom first denied Khashoggi had been killed, but weeks after went back on the claim, acknowledging his death.

In November, the US Senate passed a resolution stating it “believes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi”.

It called upon the government of Saudi Arabia to “ensure appropriate accountability for all those responsible for Jamal Khashoggi's murder”.