Long awaited investigation of Jamal Khashoggi have finally cone to an end, five people have been sentenced to death and three others were given a combined 24 years in prison in connection to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
A court in Saudi Arabia handed down the sentencing Monday but did not release the names of those convicted. The five death sentences were handed down for the murder of Khashoggi, while the three others given prison time were sentenced for covering up the crime, NowThis reported.
The ruling Monday came after a year-long investigation and was met with backlash by some questioning the exoneration of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The prince told CBS that he takes full responsibility for the actions of the agents, but that he had no prior knowledge of the operation.
According to NowThis, Turkish intelligence, along with the CIA, believe the murder was premeditated and likely an order from Prince Mohammad himself. A U.N. special rapporteur in June said there was “credible evidence” that the crown prince and other high-level officials are responsible, and that the murder was “a deliberate, premeditated execution, an extrajudicial killing.”
The report also said 15 Saudi agents arrived in Istanbul just hours before the murder, including a “body double” for Khashoggi.
Khashoggi was a critic of the crown prince and wrote about human rights violations in Saudi Arabia. According to the Associated Press, some people who have questioned the crown prince’s actions in the past are in prison and facing national security charges.
