Saudi Hands Jail Terms to 8 in Khashoggi Verdict

A Saudi court jailed eight defendants to between seven and 20 years over the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, state media reported, overturning five earlier death sentences.

The Riyadh Criminal Court issued final verdicts Monday against eight people.

"Five of the convicts were given 20 years in prison and another three were jailed for 7-10 years," the official Saudi Press Agency said, citing the public prosecution service.

The final court verdict comes after Khashoggi's sons said in May that they had "pardoned" the killers.

The trial was widely criticized by rights groups and an independent UN investigator, who noted that no senior officials nor anyone suspected of ordering the killing was found guilty.

The independence of the court was also brought into question.