Skip to main content

Trial postponed for ex-Egyptian official accused of killing protesters

From Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, For CNN
Egyptian protesters throw stones at a police convoy carrying ex-interior minister Habib El Adly outside a court in Cairo.
Egyptian protesters throw stones at a police convoy carrying ex-interior minister Habib El Adly outside a court in Cairo.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Former Egyptian Interior Minister Habib El Adly faces charges of killing protesters
  • His new trial date is the same day as ousted President Hosni Mubarak's trial
  • Protesters are angry after demanding speedy trials and swift judgments on regime members
  • Six of El Adly's former assistants are also accused of killing protesters
RELATED TOPICS

Cairo (CNN) -- The much anticipated trial of former Egyptian Interior Minister Habib El Adly has been postponed until August 3 -- the same day Egypt's ousted president is scheduled to stand trial.

El Adly and former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak face charges of killing pro-democracy protesters during the revolution that started six months ago.

El Adly's trial at a Cairo court was expected to be carried live on state television Monday. This is second time the trial was postponed amid frustrations among protesters in Tahrir Square who demand speedy trials and swift judgments for detained officials from Mubarak's regime.

Judge Adel Abdel Salam Gomaa announced the postponement to a court room packed with people -- many of whom had already learned about the decision on Egyptian State TV.

"The decision was leaked by the lawyers before the hearing and broadcast before the defendants and judge even entered the court -- which was a big mistake, " said Aly Hassan, a judicial consultant with the Ministry of Justice.

El Adly appeared with a blue uniform because he had been sentenced to 12 years for corruption charges. Six of his former assistants, who were also set to stand trial for allegedly killing protesters, appeared in white suits.

The authorities asked all journalists to leave the court except for Egyptian TV staff in charge of broadcasting the trial.

"Do they expect us to believe that Mubarak will appear with Adly in two weeks at a court when he has been in Sharm el-Sheikh for six months?" said Noor Noor, an activist and son of presidential candidate Ayman Noor.

The 83-year-old ex-ruler fell into a coma earlier this month, Mubarak lawyer Farid El Deeb told CNN. He later regained consciousness, said Mohamed Fathalla, the head of the Sharm el-Sheikh facility where Mubarak was recuperating.

Hassan said Mubarak and El Adly are expected to be tried in the coastal city due to security issues.

More than 800 protesters were killed during the Egyptian revolution when pro-democracy protests forced Mubarak to step down on February 11.

CNN's Amir Ahmed contributed to this report.

Part of complete coverage on
'Sons of Mubarak' in plea for respect
Pro-Mubarak supporters believe Egypt's former president is innocent of charges of corruption and killing protesters.
Timeline of the conflict in Libya
Fighting in Libya started with anti-government demonstrations in February and escalated into a nationwide civil war.
Who are these rebels?
After months of seeming stalemate, Libyan rebels declared they were moving in on Tripoli. But who are they?
Why NATO's Libya mission has shifted
Six months and more than 17,000 air sorties after it began, NATO's Operation Unified Protector in the skies over Libya grinds on.
Interactive map: Arab unrest
Click on countries in CNN's interactive map to see the roots of their unrest and where things stand today.
Send your videos, stories
Are you in the Middle East or North Africa? Send iReport your images. Don't do anything that could put you at risk.
Libya through Gadhafi's keyhole
Behind the official smiles for the cameras some people in Libya's capital are waiting for the rebels, reports CNN's Ivan Watson.
How Arab youth found its voice
Tunisia's Mohamed Bouazizi not only ignited a series of revolts but heralded the first appearance of Arab youth on the stage of modern history.