LONDON: A Qatari sheikh is being sued by a British family for more than £200,000 ($246,754) after his elderly relative was murdered in 2019.

Charles Roberts, 66, was killed by Sheikh Hassan Nasser al-Thani while he was driving through London in his Rolls-Royce.

The pensioner died at the scene, and Qatri Sheikh was found guilty and sentenced to eight months in prison, with two years suspended.

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Al-Thani was banned from driving for three years following a court ruling in Britain and given a guilty plea of causing death by careless driving.

The Roberts family are currently suing al-Thani on behalf of the victim's brother Peter, who is seeking more than £200,000 in damages.

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According to the family's lawyers, "Peter Roberts was supported by the deceased and is now supported by his cousins who have power of attorney to handle his financial affairs on his behalf."

He stated that the claim is "on the part of the dependent of the deceased after his death ... as a result of the defendant's negligent driving management and/or control of the motor vehicle resulting in his death."

At the time of his sentencing in October 2021, al-Thani was found to be driving at 54 mph in a 30 mph zone.

Judge Richard Marks said he was "satisfied" that Roberts' death could have been avoided and prevented if al-Thani had been traveling "at or near" the reasonable speed limit.

The court determined that the Qatari royal's "serious" health problems, such as "morbid obesity" and "sleep apnea," would have put him at risk during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and thus prevent him from being jailed.

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The judge suspended his sentence saying, "I accept, and this is important, that your excessive speed and recklessness occurred within a matter of seconds."