Morocco: 4th death sentence over killing of Nordic hikers

SALE, Morocco – A Moroccan court has sentenced a fourth local man to death for the Islamic State-linked murder of two Scandinavian university students hiking in the Atlas Mountains.

In an appeals hearing, the court also confirmed death sentences for terrorism and murder it had previously imposed on another three Moroccans over the young women’s brutal slaying.

All four defendants had claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group.

The ruling late Wednesday toughened the initial life sentence imposed in July on 33-year-old plumber Khaiali Abderahman, condemning him to death.

Maren Ueland, 28, of Norway, and Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, of Denmark were knifed to death in their tent last December, and the murderers posted video of the slayings online.

Morocco only rarely carries out death sentences. Its last execution was in 1993.