Saudi Arabia puts Jamal Khashoggi murder suspects ‘on trial’

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Saudi Arabia’s state media says the 11 suspected killers of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi have attended their first court hearing in the capital, Riyadh.

The official Saudi Press Agency said the prosecutor, the country’s attorney general, has demanded the death penalty for five of the 11 suspects.

A statement from prosecutors said the suspects attended the hearing with their lawyers.

The statement also said that prosecutors sent a request to Turkey for evidence that Ankara has collected over slaying, that has badly hurt the kingdom’s international reputation and strained its relations with Western countries.

Khashoggi went missing on October 2 after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkish authorities later revealed that he was murdered inside the consulate by a Saudi hit squad.

Questions remain over Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s role in ordering the killing, with several western intelligence agencies alluding that he had knowledge of the operation beforehand.

Turkish media have published photographs of members of the crown prince’s entourage at the consulate ahead of the slaying.

Khashoggi’s body, believed to have been dismembered, has not been found.