Khashoggi murder case trial 'not sufficient': UNHRC

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has denied evaluating the ongoing trial of slain Saudi Arabia journalist Jamal Khashoggi and called it to be insufficient.

Al Jazeera quoted the UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani as saying that the Khashoggi murder case trial was "not sufficient", as the international watchdog had called for an independent trial "with international involvement".

The statements from the United Nations office had come after Saudi Arabia held the initial hearing in the Jamal Khashoggi murder case on Thursday, wherein the public prosecutor sought the death penalty for five of the 11 accused for their alleged direct involvement in the murder.

However, the international organisation opposed Saudi Arabia's decision by saying that it was against the death penalty announced for the five suspects.

The Kingdom's Human Rights Commission also attended the hearing on January 3.

"Arraigning the accused comes as yet a confirmation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's previous announcement that justice will take its course and that whoever has taken part in this crime will receive his deterrent penalty," Saudi Press Agency quoted the commission as saying.

The hearing comes after mounting pressure from international leaders over a fair and transparent trial into Khashoggi's murder that took place in Turkey in October last year.

The public prosecutor also outlined that Turkey is yet to send any evidence related to the case to Saudi Arabia, despite the Kingdom's continuous requests.