Saudi prince jailed for murdering servant

London, 20 Oct-(ANA)-A Saudi prince has been jailed for life for murdering his servant at a hotel in central London.

Bandera Abdulaziz, 32, was found beaten and strangled in the Landmark Hotel, Marylebone, on 15 February 2010.

The Old Bailey was told the assault by Saud Abdulaziz bin Nasser al Saud had a "sexual element" and he had attacked Mr Abdulaziz many times before.

Al Saud, 34, who had admitted manslaughter but denied murder, was given a minimum jail term of 20 years.

The Saudi prince was also found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to an earlier attack in a hotel lift, a charge which he had denied.

The murder of Mr Abdulaziz was the final act in a "deeply abusive" master-servant relationship in which Al Saud carried out frequent attacks on his aide "for his own personal gratification".

Judge Mr Justice Dean said: "You were in a position of authority and trust over him which you exploited ruthlessly.

"I think the most likely explanation is that you could not care less whether you killed him or not." (ANA)

FA/ANA/20 October 2010---------