Death upheld for Kuwaiti royal over killing nephew

KUWAIT CITY—Kuwait’s Supreme Court Monday upheld a death sentence for a member of the Gulf state’s ruling family convicted of killing his nephew, also a royal, according to the verdict.

Sheikh Faisal Abdullah Al-Sabah was convicted of shooting Sheikh Basel Salem Al-Sabah to death at the latter’s palace in June 2010, apparently over a dispute on board membership at a sports club.

The sentence is final but can be commuted to life in jail by the emir of the Gulf state where executions are carried out by hanging.

Sheikh Basel was the grandson of the late former emir Sheikh Sabah Salem Al-Sabah and the son of late minister of defense and interior Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah.

Courts in Kuwait, which has an elected parliament and a vibrant political life, have in the past handed down death sentences to members of the Al-Sabah ruling family.

Kuwait resumed executions earlier this year after a moratorium since 2007. Around 50 prisoners are currently on death row.