Saudi scraps death sentences over Khashoggi murder, jails 8

[Victoria33]

Saudi scraps death sentences over Khashoggi murder, jails 8​

A Saudi court Monday overturned five death sentences over journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder in a final ruling that jailed eight defendants to between seven and 20 years, state media reported.

“Five of the convicts were given 20 years in prison and another three were jailed for 7-10 years,” the official Saudi Press Agency said, citing a spokesman for the public prosecutor.

None of the defendants were named in what was described as the final court ruling on the killing which had sparked an international outcry.

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Saudi scraps death sentences over Khashoggi murder, jails 8

Pretty big news. I’m not sure what we are to make of this. With maximums of 20 years for 5 of the convicts, that seems lenient for such a heinous murder that would ordinarily be punished with death. I am glad they won’t receive the death penalty.

In ways, I wonder if this is a bit of a charade. We don’t know the names of the defendants but I do believe they have been reported via Turkey, via Western media.