US welcomes Saudi verdict in Jamal Khashoggi murder case

The United States yesterday welcomed the death sentences issued by Saudi Arabia against five people over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

A State Department official told reporters that the verdict was an important step in holding those responsible for this terrible crime accountable.

However, The Washington Post described the verdict as a farce. Khashoggi was working for Washington Post.

The court,



however, exonerated two top aides to Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom the United States Senate considered responsible for Khashoggi's murder in October last year at Riyadh's consulate in Istanbul.

Saudi Arabia has described the murder as a "rogue" operation, but both the CIA and a United Nations special envoy have directly linked Prince Mohammed to the killing, a charge the kingdom vehemently denied.