Court Adjourns Morsi Trial: Egypt

Local Editor

A Cairo court has adjourned the trial of ousted President Morsi over refusing his prison uniform and the defendants' chanting "Down with the military rule". Morsi and 14 others face charges of inciting the killing of protesters in clashes.
Judge Ahmed Sabry Youssef ordered the adjournment shortly after a two-hour delay at the start of the hearings. The delay was due to Morsi's defiance of the court, which he said had no authority to try a legitimate Egyptian president. "This trial is illegitimate," he insisted.

The proceedings were expected to resume later on Monday. However, after several hours the court decided to delay the trial much further until January 8, 2014. The extra time is needed for both defense and prosecution to examine the documents related to the case.

Mohamed Morsi was brought to the courthouse on Monday morning from the secret location of his four-month detention. It's his first public appearance since his ouster in a coup on July 3.

Along with 14 senior members of his Muslim Brotherhood, Morsi is accused of inciting the murder of protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012. If convicted, Morsi could face the death penalty.

For the first time in its history Egypt has two former presidents who are on trial at the same time.

Source: Agencies