Egypt Upholds Death Sentences for Murder of Judge's Guard
An Egyptian court on Monday confirmed death sentences for nine people convicted of killing a bodyguard to a judge heading a trial against ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
The court upheld the death sentences for the murder of Sergeant Abdallah Metwally, gunned down in February 2014 in the city of Mansoura north of Cairo.
The policeman was part of a team guarding the home of the presiding judge in Morsi's trial for escaping from jail during the 2011 uprising that ousted longtime president Hosni Mubarak.
An initial court ruling on July 9 sentenced 10 people to death in the bodyguard murder case, but the court on Monday lessened one of the sentences to life in prison.
Morsi was ousted in 2013 by the army after mass protests against his one-year divisive rule.
Rights groups accuse Egypt's authorities of using the judiciary in a crackdown against his supporters that has left more than 1,400 dead, tens of thousands arrested and hundreds sentenced to death in swift mass trials.
Morsi himself has also been sentenced to death.
The Court of Cassation has however overturned dozens of these death sentences.
Militants have killed hundreds of soldiers and policemen in attacks claimed in retaliation for the crackdown.
Source: Agence France Presse
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://cdn.naharnet.com/stories/en/189290 |