The three main defendants in the brutal slayings of two Scandinavian women in Morocco have asked for forgiveness from Allah ahead of a verdict.
All 23 defendants addressed the court on Thursday, most seeking leniency, before the judges retired to decide the verdict.
The three main suspects are accused of knifing to death Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway, and Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark, in December. The slayings were recorded on video and posted online. The men claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group.
Lawyers gather inside a court room before the start of a final trial session for suspects charged in connection with killing of two Scandinavian tourists in Morocco's Atlas Mountains, in Sale, near Rabat, Morocco, Thursday, July 18, 2019. The three main defendants in the brutal slaying of two female Scandinavian hikers have asked for forgiveness from Allah ahead of a verdict. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
In his closing arguments in June, the prosecutor described the three as "human beasts" and asked for death sentences.
Two of the main suspects, Jounes Ouzayed and Rashid Afatti, are carpenters. Abdessamad Al Joud is a street merchant.