Trial of former Egyptian President Mubarak adjourned, will no longer be aired

[News_Editor]

Trial of former Egyptian President Mubarak adjourned, will no longer be aired

2011-08-16 01:15:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

CAIRO (BNO NEWS) -- The trial of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and his two sons was adjourned on Monday until September 5, while further television broadcasts of the trial have now been banned, the Al-Ahram state-owned newspaper reported.

Judge Ahmed Refaat adjourned the trial in order to combine it with that of former interior minister Habib El-Adly and six security chiefs for killing protesters during the 18-day uprising earlier this year. The decision prompted a round of applause at the end of the second session in the case against Mubarak and his sons, Alaa and Gamal.

Lawyers for the victims had been requesting the judge to merge both trials as Mubarak, El-Adly and six officials are all accused of instigating the killings of peaceful protesters during the January 25 Revolution. Mubarak was originally set to be tried separately from the rest of the defendants, but both cases were merged a few days ahead of the opening session of the trial. Following the first session, however, Mubarak's case was separated again, upon the request of his defense lawyer, Fareed El-Dib.

Judge Ahmed Refaat also announced during the second session of the trial that the court sessions will no longer be televised, even though the public demanded the broadcasting of the trial to ensure its credibility. Legal experts, however, stressed that transparency of justice should not be affected since the families of the victims and media personnel are still allowed to attend the sessions.

This is was Mubarak's second public appearance since he was ousted in February following mass street protests. Mubarak, who ruled Egypt for 30 years, is currently being detained at a military hospital near Cairo.

According to Amnesty International, at least 840 people were killed and over 6,000 people were injured in the violent repression. During the trial's first session, Mubarak pleaded not guilty to charges of ordering the killing of anti-government protesters and abusing his powers.

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