It is spooky to wear the clothes of a man we killed 20 mins ago

Assassin’s taped words after Khashoggi murder

A HITMAN who killed Jamal Khashoggi was recorded complaining about wearing the Saudi journalist’s clothes in a plot to conceal the murder.

A newly released tape allegedly captures the killer speaking about posing as Khashoggi in a ruse to convince people he was still alive.

The dissident reporter, a vocal critic of the Saudi regime, was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

About an hour after he entered the building, a male voice on the tape says: “It is spooky to wear the clothes of a man whom we killed 20 minutes ago”.

The tape was leaked to Turkish media. On it, Khashoggi is heard saying: “Release my arm. What do you think you are doing?”

One man then calls him “traitor”, and he is told he will “be held to account”.

Later, the hitman who posed as Khashoggi – identified by Turkey as Mustafa al-madani – complains that the reporter’s black leather shoes are too small, and he is told he can wear his own trainers. Turkish media said the tape is proof that Khashoggi was killed. Saudi officials have detained 21 people over the death. But despite widespread allegations that he ordered the kill, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was last week exonerated by the Saudi prosecutor.

President Trump has said the US will take no action against the Crown Prince.