The Saudi royal adviser who allegedly oversaw the brutal murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi is not among the suspects on trial for his death.

Saud al-Qahtani, a close confidant of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reportedly gave orders over Skype to the security and intelligence agents who tortured, killed, and dismembered Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October. Turkish authorities say they have recordings of Qahtani directing the proceedings, and the United States sanctioned him after the murder.