Saudi- Cop killer duo handed death

(MENAFN- Arab News) A court sentenced two terror suspects to death on Tuesday for jointly murdering a policeman and injuring 12 others in an armed confrontation with security men at the residential quarters of the King Fahd Hospital in Jazan in September 2003.

Thirteen other terror suspects were also sentenced to prison terms ranging between 14 and 36 years.

The suspects belonged to a 29-member terror cell that was listed as the most dangerous in the Kingdom. Cell operations were based in Madinah and Jazan.

Police arrested them at an Internet cafe in the Qiblatain district and inside a villa in the Khalidiya Iskan district in Madinah.

Meanwhile Riyadh's Special Criminal Court has adjourned a judgment hearing against the ringleader of the Awamiyah riots which took place in Qatif in 2013 until Oct. 15 since the defendant failed to show up on Tuesday.

Namir Al-Namir was charged with inciting dissidence by instigating riots and calling for the murder of policemen.

Defense and prosecution arguments were concluded by the trial judge in September.

The judge also examined evidence and eyewitness statements against the defendant including recordings of his incendiary speeches to the public and his confession which was endorsed by a court.

A list of 23 dangerous and wanted criminals was published following the riots.

Earlier reports said that the suspect had created chaos in a bid to obstruct police movement.

The prosecutor had argued that the defendant instigated the riot to shield wanted terror suspects from arrest and then resisted arrest by ramming his car into a police patrol vehicle near a Civil Defense building in the area.

The man was caught after police opened fire at him as he fled the scene of the crime.

Suspects in two other cars then shot at the police car as the wounded man was taken to hospital in an ambulance.