Saudi prince executed for murdering a citizen

Saudi Arabia has executed a royal family member for killing another man during a brawl. Prince Turki bin Saud al-Kabir was found guilty of murdering a young Saudi man during a group fight in Riyadh more than three years ago.

“Turki bin Saud al-Kabir killed Saudi citizen Adel bin Suleiman bin Abdul Karim Mohaimeed,” the statement from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior, obtained by Al Arabiya, reads.

It added, “He was charged with what was attributed to him and sentenced to death as retribution.”

The statement did not include the manner of his execution, although many of those executed in the country were beheaded in a public square. According to AFP, Prince Turki was the 134^th local or foreigner executed this year. It is rare for a member of the royal family to be executed, though.

Before Tuesday’s execution, the last royal family member who had been put to death for murder was in 1975 when Prince Faisal bin Musaid was beheaded for assassinating King Faisal.

It was reported in 2014 that an unnamed royal had been sentenced to death for killing his friend in December 2012. The victim was killed during an exchange of gunfire following a dispute at a dessert camp, a popular gathering place for Saudis, in Riyadh. Another person was also injured during the incident. The prince informed the police of what happened upon realising that the victim was his friend.

Turki’s age and his biographical information were not provided. However, Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud told the New York Times that Turki was from one of the most prominent branches of the family and a direct descendant of King Abdulaziz, who founded the modern Saudi state in 1932. Nevertheless, that didn’t allow him special favours from the courts or the king.

“The king has always said that there is no difference in the law between princes and others, and I think that this is clear manifestation of the reality of that fact,” he said.