Reading preliminary rulings for 11 people who have been investigated by Saudi Arabia, al-Shaalan said five others who took part in the murder had been sentenced to death. Another three people face a total of 24 years in prison for covering up the murder and violating regulations. He did not reveal any of their names.

Khashoggi -- a Washington Post columnist and royal insider-turned-critic -- was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018.

Verdict slammed as 'a mockery'

Khashoggi's son Salah described the ruling as "fair" on Twitter Monday.

"A fair judiciary is based on 2 principles: justice and quick proceedings. Today's judiciary was fair to us, the sons of Jamal Khashoggi," wrote Salah, Khashoggi's eldest son who handles the family's relations with the government. "We affirm our confidence in Saudi judiciary on all its levels as it ruled in our favor and achieved justice."

Callamard criticized the court's conclusion that the killing was not premeditated, citing "the presence of a forensic doctor," how the "defendants had repeatedly stated they were obeying orders" and how the consul general "took all necessary precautions to ensure there will be no eye witness present."

Amnesty International blasted Monday's verdict as "a whitewash" and accused Saudi officials of failing the slain journalist and his family.

"This verdict ... brings neither justice nor the truth for Jamal Khashoggi and his loved ones. The trial has been closed to the public and to independent monitors, with no information available as to how the investigation was carried out," Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International's Middle East Research Director, said in a statement.

"The verdict fails to address the Saudi authorities' involvement in this devastating crime or clarify the location of Jamal Khashoggi's remains," Maalouf added.

Turkey also said the Saudi findings left many unanswered questions.

In a written statement, Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy said the verdict was disappointing as "important aspects of the murder remain in the dark."

"The fact that the departed Khashoggi's remains are still unaccounted for and the identity of the instigators as well as the local collaborators, if there were any, have still not been determined is a fundamental deficiency in the interest of serving justice and accountability," the statement said.

"It is not just a legal necessity but also moral responsibility and obligation that light is shed on this murder committed on our soil and all those responsible are punished," Aksoy added.

Aksoy also renewed Ankara's demand for judicial cooperation from Saudi authorities.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement: "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."

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