Court sources said the case would be referred to the Court of Appeals, which will either uphold or reject the case.
The young man told police that he was interested in a locked steel box belonging to the 67-year old neighbor and wanted to steal its contents.
He put insecticide in the food of the old man, who was living alone. When he came back the next day he found him lying dead on his bed.
He broke open the box to find a machine gun and a number of bullets. Three days later, the villagers discovered the body. They buried the neighbor, believing he had died of natural causes.
Four years later, the police arrested the young man on charges of stealing sheep. During questioning he admitted the theft and also told officers that it was him who killed the old man.
He said the sight of the old man lying dead on his bed had never left his mind.
After he admitted the murder, he was taken to the grand court in Hail, which gave him the maximum penalty of death.
