Saudi prosecutors seek death penalty for suspects in Khashoggi’s murder

Saudi Arabia state media says the 11 suspected killers of journalist Jamal Khashoggi have attended their first court hearing, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.

The call came during the first court hearing in the Khashoggi case, which has badly hurt the kingdom’s international reputation and strained its relations with Western countries.

The Jeddah-born journalist went missing on October 2 after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Turkish authorities later revealed that Khashoggi was murdered inside the consulate by a Saudi hit squad.

Ankara has demanded that the suspects be handed over for trial in Turkey but Saudi Arabia has refused the request.

Questions remain over Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's role in ordering the killing, with several western intelligence agencies alluding that he had knowledge of the operation beforehand.