Ibrahim Alawi
Okaz/Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH - The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the verdict issued by the Special Criminal Court to give death sentence to two terrorists for their involvement in the murder of four French nationals in Madinah eight years ago.
The court approved unanimously the death verdict of the first defendant while majority of judges endorsed death verdict for the second defendant.
The four victims were in a group of nine French people from three families living in Riyadh. They were killed on Feb. 26, 2007, when terrorists opened fire on them after they lost their way while on a trip to Madain Saleh.
On 14 Jan. 2014, the Special Criminal Court in Riyadh sentenced defendant No. 1 and 2 to death and awarded jail terms to 12 other defendants in the case.
The court ruled that defendant No. 1 confessed that he took part in the killing of the Frenchmen by firing at them, believing that they were non-Muslims.
Defendant No. 2 also took part in the crime together with Walid Al-Raddadi, the leader of the cell who was killed later in a shootout with the security forces.
Charges against them also included firing at security officials, robbing cars, and possession of weapons.
Twelve defendants were sentenced to jail terms ranging from three to 23 years. Charges against them included giving help and shelter to Raddadi and the first two defendants, and funding terrorist acts.
