Irish journalist’s killer gets death penalty

Simon Cumbers was shot and killed in Saudi Arabia in 2004

Bronagh and Bob Cumbers, parents of BBC Cameraman Simon Cumbers (in photo on left) at their home in Navan. Cumbers (36) was shot and killed in 2004 when in the country working on a programme on al-Qaeda.   Photograph: Alan Betson/ The Irish Times
Bronagh and Bob Cumbers, parents of BBC Cameraman Simon Cumbers (in photo on left) at their home in Navan. Cumbers (36) was shot and killed in 2004 when in the country working on a programme on al-Qaeda. Photograph: Alan Betson/ The Irish Times

The man who killed Irish BBC cameraman Simon Cumbers in Saudi Arabia 10 years ago has been sentenced to death by a court in the kingdom.

Adil Sa'ad Al-Dubayti Al Mutayri attended a brief hearing in Riyadh yesterday with two other defendants accused of murder and of declaring war against the state. The sentence is subject to appeal.

Mr Cumbers (36), originally from Navan, was shot and killed in 2004 when in the country working on a BBC programme on al-Qaeda.

His colleague, BBC correspondent Frank Gardner, was also shot in the attack but survived.

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard is a reporter with The Irish Times