Gay Saudi prince ‘strangled servant in sexual killing’
A gay Saudi prince has been accused of killing his servant in a London hotel room.
Saud Abdulaziz bin Nasser al Saud, 34, was accused of murdering Bandar Abdulaziz, 32, in a “sexually-motivated” attack last February.
The pair had been staying at the Landmark Hotel in Marylebone since January 20th as part of an extended holiday.
Mr Abdulaziz was found beaten and strangled in bed at the pair’s room on February 15th.
Press Association reports that Mr al Saud admits the killing but denies murder and one count of grievous bodily harm with intent. The jury at the Old Bailey is to decide whether he is guilty of murder or manslaughter.
According to the prosecution, the victim’s body displayed injuries consistent with a sexual attack. These included bite marks to the face.
Prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw QC said: “Theirs was a far more complicated relationship that the defendant was prepared to admit and there was an abusive undertone to it.
“What is plain is that they did not travel as equals or as friends. Bandar was treated as an aide or servant and there was a far more sinister aspect to the defendant’s treatment of the victim.
“He would beat Bandar up and the abuse was not confined to physical violence – there was a sexual element to it as well.”
Mr al Saud has maintained that the pair were equals and that he is not gay.
However, Mr Laidlaw said there were large amounts of evidence to prove that he was gay, such as evidence from male escorts, internet search histories and evidence from witnesses such as barmen.
He said: ”The evidence establishes quite conclusively that he is either gay or that he has homosexual tendencies.
”It is clear that his abuse of Bandar was not confined simply to physical beatings. There is clear evidence, over and above the bite marks, that there was also a sexual element to his mistreatment of the victim.”
The prosecutor added that there was evidence Mr al Saud had attacked Mr Abdulaziz before, including CCTV footage from a hotel lift.
The case continues.
