Saudi prosecutor will seek death penalties in Khashoggi case

The first trial session of suspects in the Jamal Khashoggi murder case was held Thursday in Saudi capital Riyadh.

A criminal court in Riyadh held the trial session for 11 defendants, local media reported, citing a statement issued by the Saudi Public Prosecution.

The Public Prosecution has demanded the death sentence for five defendants.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and prominent critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct.2. The journalist had gone there to collect documents for his forthcoming marriage.

After weeks of saying he had left the consulate alive, the Saudi administration later admitted he was killed there, blaming his death on a group of rogue Saudi operatives.

The case has caused global outrage and has damaged the international standing of the 33-year-old crown prince, the kingdom's de facto ruler.