Faisal bin Musaid

Case record

Faisal bin Musaid bin Abdul-Aziz (April 4, 1944 - June 18, 1975) was the assassin and nephew of King Faisal. He assassinated King Faisal and was found guilty of regicide.

Background

Faisal was born in Riyadh. His father was Prince Musaid. His mother was Watfa, a daughter of Muhammad bin Talal, the 12th (and last) Rashidi amir.

Faisal had a brother Khaled, who allegedly died in a Riyadh protest against the introduction of television. The details of his death were disputed. Some reports alleged that Khaled actually died resisting arrest outside his own home. No investigation over Khaled’s death was ever initiated. Faisal’s sister was Princess Al Jawhara, and he had another brother, Prince Bandar.

Faisal studied in the United States. He went to San Francisco State College and the University of Colorado. His peers described him as "quiet, likable, notably unstudious young man". University of Colorado Professor Edward Rozek, who taught Faisal in three comparative government courses, described him as "academically a D and a C student" and said his motivation for his future assassination "must have been drugs".

In 1970, Faisal was arrested in Boulder, Colorado for selling LSD and hashish. The district attorney would drop the charges. Afterward, Faisal took graduate courses in political science at Berkeley. He did not finish his degree and he left the United States after being granted diplomatic immunity.

His girlfriend was Christine Surma, a blond part-time movie actress who played in Bite of the Cobra . Surma viewed the Saudi's interest "in achieving peace with Israel" as positive outcomes "not available with the previous ruler [King Faisal]". She stated her boyfriend was a "perfect gentleman who was proud of his family and his country. "

After leaving the United States, he went to Beirut, where he was again involved in drug abuse. He also, for unknown reasons, went to East Germany. When he came back to Saudi Arabia, Saudi authorities seized his passport because of his troubles abroad. He began teaching at Riyadh University and kept in touch with Christine Surma.

The offence

On March 25, 1975, Faisal went to the Royal Palace in Riyadh, where King Faisal was holding a majlis. Faisal joined a Kuwaiti delegation and lined up to meet the king. The king recognized Faisal as his nephew and bent his head forward so that Faisal could kiss the king's nose in a sign of respect.

Faisal took out a revolver from his robe and shot King Faisal twice in the head. His third shot missed and he threw the gun away. King Faisal fell to the floor.

Investigation and arrest

Bodyguards with gold swords and submachine guns arrested Faisal after he threw the gun away. King Faisal was quickly rushed to a hospital, but doctors failed in saving him.

Before dying, King Faisal ordered that the assassin not be executed. Saudi television crews captured the entire assassination on camera.

Initial reports described Faisal bin Musaid as "mentally deranged." Faisal was moved to a Riyadh prison. His involvement with drugs was cited as one of the motivations in the assassination. Saudi officials began to state that Faisal’s actions were deliberate and planned.

Faisal had undergone psychiatric treatment in Beirut, where he blamed his uncle for the death of his brother. Rumors suggested that Faisal had told his mother about his assassination plans, who in turn told King Faisal. King Faisal responded that "if it was Allah's will, then it would happen". Arab media implied that Faisal had been a tool of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.

Trial

Faisal was tried and found guilty of regicide.

Sentencing

Hours after the verdict, he was publicly decapitated in Riyadh.

Outcome

Faisal was executed by decapitation on June 18, 1975 in Riyadh after being found guilty of regicide.

Other details

Faisal was described as claiming vengeance for his brother Khaled.

Faisal’s third shot missed and he threw the gun away during the assassination.

Christine Surma stated: "perfect gentleman who was proud of his family and his country. "