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Saudi Arabia says it is seeking the death penalty for five of 11 suspects in the killing of 

The 11 suspects appeared in a Riyadh courtroom Thursday for the first hearing in the case.


It is the latest development in a case that has triggered a reckoning about U.S. support of Saudi Arabia in the war in Yemen, as well as the financial influence of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C., 

Khashoggi was a Saudi journalist writing and living in self-imposed exile in the United States. He entered the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, 2018, and never emerged.


As NPR previously reported, Saudi Arabia at first 

. Khashoggi's body has not been found.
A 

 concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the killing of Khashoggi. If convicted, the suspects may face the death penalty for carrying out official orders.
President Trump has pledged the U.S. will remain a "steadfast partner" to Saudi Arabia and cast doubt on the CIA conclusions," 

"Maybe he did and maybe he didn't," Trump said of the crown prince's knowledge of the killing.

 on 17 Saudi officials believed to be involved in the act, NPR's Jackie Northam reports.
In December, U.S. senators outraged over Khashoggi's death passed 

 U.S. military aircraft from providing in-flight fueling to "non-U.S. aircraft" conducting missions in the Yemen conflict. The Senate also passed a resolution meant to hold the crown prince responsible for the killing of Khashoggi, 

. Saudi Arabia has rejected that accusation.
Prosecutors said they have sent five letters to Turkish officials asking for evidence related to the killing, but hadn't yet received a response. Ankara has demanded the suspects 

Saudi Arabia's Public Prosecutor has said Khashoggi's alleged killers planned his death three days in advance.


While the 11 defendants review the charges with their lawyers, the Saudi Public Prosecutor said Thursday it would continue to investigate "the rest of the individuals in custody in relation to this crime." In November, 

Crime, Law and Justice

Politics and Government News

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Saudi state media report five suspects may face the death penalty in the grisly killing of Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey.

Trial begins for 11 suspects in killing of Saudi journalist Khashoggi

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