Saudi prosecutors are saying that the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist, was a planned murder.
Saudi Attorney General Saud al-Mojeb said that investigators came to the conclusion after seeing evidence presented by Turkish officials, reported the state-run Saudi Press Agency on Oct. 25, according to the Associated Press.
Turkey and Saudi Arabia are both investigating the killing. The countries, considered hostile to each other, have been cooperating in the probe.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry said that the suspects, all Saudis, traveled to the consulate to try to convince Khashoggi, who was applying for a marriage license, to come back with them to his home country.
“The discussions ... did not go as required and escalated negatively, which led to a fight between them and the citizen, which aggregated the situation and led to his death, may God rest his soul,” the Foreign Ministry said.
In another statement, the Saudi attorney general said that the discussions at the consulate “led to a brawl and a fist fight … which led to his death.”
Trump and Turkey
Turkish officials have stressed the need to identify and jail the perpetrators.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Oct. 23 that people behind the killing must “be brought to account.”
In a speech to parliament about the case, Erdogan also alleged the killing was premeditated, although he didn’t blame any Saudi official specifically, and said that the investigation isn’t over yet.
Turkish authorities have also shut down some 180 outlets.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said on the same day that the Saudis have to be punished in some way for killing the writer.