Saudi crown prince says murder of journalist jamal khashoggi was 'a mistake'

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in a television interview that he takes “full responsibility” for the grisly murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but denied allegations that he ordered it.

This was a heinous crime, Prince Mohammed, 34, told “60 Minutes” in an interview that aired Sunday.

But I take full responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia, especially since it was committed by individuals working for the Saudi government.

Asked if he ordered the murder of Khashoggi, who had criticized him in columns for The Washington Post, Prince Mohammed replied: 

Absolutely not. The slaying was a mistake, he said.

Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Turkey on Oct. 2, 2018, to collect a document that he needed to marry his Turkish fiancee. Agents of the Saudi government killed Khashoggi inside the consulate and apparently dismembered his body, which has never been found. Saudi Arabia has charged 11 people in the slaying and put them on trial, which has been held in secret. As of yet, no one has been convicted.