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Five people had been sentenced to death in the case of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor has said.

Another three people have been jailed for a total of 24 years over the death of Mr Khashoggi in Istanbul last year inside the Saudi Arabian consulate.

Saudi Public Prosecutor Shalaa ​al-Shalaan, ​reading out the preliminary verdict in the trial, also said Saud al-Qahtani, a former high-profile Saudi royal adviser, had been investigated but was not charged and was released.

The journalist's death was described by the the nation's public prosecutor as a "rogue operation".

A total of 11 people were charged for the killing, and the kingdom has carried out the trials of the accused in near total secrecy.

The court also ruled that the Saudi consul-general in Istanbul at the time, Mohammed al-Otaibi, was not guilty.

He was released from prison after the verdicts were announced, according to state TV.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said he bears responsibility for the death of the Washington Post columnist "because it happened under my watch".

The Crown Prince was condemned over the killing because several Saudi agents involved worked directly for him.

CCTV shows Jamal Khashoggi enter consulate 6 show all CCTV shows Jamal Khashoggi enter consulate 1/6 Jamal Khashoggi, circled, outside the consulate on October 2 AP 2/6 Images show him speaking to Hatice Cengiz, his wife-to-be, before entering AP 3/6 He was entering the consulate to get documentation for his upcoming marriage AP 4/6 The Saudi government has now described him as having been "murdered" AP 5/6 He is seen in a black jacket, grey shirt and grey trousers AP 6/6 Some 18 people have been arrested in connection with his death AP 1/6 Jamal Khashoggi, circled, outside the consulate on October 2 AP 2/6 Images show him speaking to Hatice Cengiz, his wife-to-be, before entering AP 3/6 He was entering the consulate to get documentation for his upcoming marriage AP 4/6 The Saudi government has now described him as having been "murdered" AP 5/6 He is seen in a black jacket, grey shirt and grey trousers AP 6/6 Some 18 people have been arrested in connection with his death AP

The kingdom denies that Prince Mohammed had any involvement or knowledge of the operation.

After holding nine sessions, the trial concluded that there was no previous intent by those found guilty to murder, according to state TV.

Despite the clandestine nature of the court proceedings, a handful of diplomats, including from Turkey, as well as members of Mr Khashoggi's family were allowed to attend the sessions.

No names were given for those found guilty. The attorney general's office also said it is looking into the verdicts, which were issued by Riyadh's criminal court, to see whether to move ahead in the appellate court.

Mr Khashoggi had walked into his country's consulate in Istanbul in October 2018 to collect documents that would allow him to wed his Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, who waited for him outside.

He never walked out, and his body was never found.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “The killing of Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible crime. Mr Khashoggi’s family deserve to see justice done for his brutal murder.

“Saudi Arabia must ensure all of those responsible are held to account and that such an atrocity can never happen again.”

The Foreign Office added in a statement: "The UK condemns the use of the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle."