Killer needs $5.3 mn to escape death

A Saudi boy who killed a school colleague needs to pay SR20 million ($5.3 million) to escape a death sentence and walk free after a Saudi Prince persuaded the victim’s family to extend the deadline for seven months.

Faisal Al Ruwaili was to be executed on Tuesday but the victim’s relatives agreed to give his family seven more months to pay that diya (blood money) following mediation by Prince Khaled Al Faisal, a member of the ruling family.

“Following Prince Al Faisal’s mediation, the victim’s family agreed to extend the deadline for seven months but refused to lower the diya,” the Arabic language Sharq newspaper said in a report from the western town of Makkah.

It said Ruwaili’s family had so far managed to raise around SRtwo million ($540,000) while more funds had been sent into a special account set by his relatives to receive donations and save his life.

Ruwaili, who had been in prison for several years, is the only supporter of his family, which comprises four sisters and his parents.

Under Islamic law, a killer can be saved from the gallows freed if pardoned by the victim’s relatives in return for blood money.