A Saudi court verdict exonerating the crown prince's top aides over the murder of journalist
Jamal Khashoggi has been condemned globally as a travesty of justice, but won the backing of key ally Washington.
Five unnamed people were sentenced to death on Monday while three others were handed jail terms totalling 24 years over the killing of the
Washington Post columnist last year at Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul.
The verdict underscores Saudi efforts to turn the page on one of its worst ever diplomatic crises, which tarnished powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's global reputation and sparked intense scrutiny of the kingdom's human rights record.