Royal adviser fired over Khashoggi murder ‘not part of trial’
Saud al-Qahtani, a top aide to Prince Mohammed until he was sacked over his suspected role in the killing, has not appeared at the court sessions
London — A Saudi royal adviser fired over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi is not among the 11 suspects on trial at secretive hearings in Riyadh despite Saudi pledges to bring those responsible to justice, sources familiar with the matter said. The Saudi public prosecutor indicted 11 unnamed suspects in November, including five who could face the death penalty on charges of “ordering and committing the crime”. The CIA and some Western countries believe Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing, which Saudi officials deny. Saud al-Qahtani, a top aide to Prince Mohammed until he was sacked and then sanctioned by the US Treasury over his suspected role, is not on trial and has not appeared at any of the four court sessions convened since January, said seven sources, who are familiar with the proceedings but have not attended the trial. Kill order via Skype Two regional intelligence sources told Reuters weeks after the killing that al-Qahtani oversaw Khashoggi’s murd...
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