Mursi back in court as murder trial resumes

(MENAFN-Arab News) CAIRO: Deposed Egyptian leader Muhammad Mursi was back in court Saturday as his trial over the killing of protesters resumed, with the defense insisting he is still the legitimate president

His trial is seen as a test for Egypt’s military-installed authorities, who have come under fire for a heavy-handed crackdown on his supporters after he was forced out by the army last July

A coalition backing Mursi called for nationwide protests on Saturday to “support the legitimate elected president,” but there were no reports of any demonstrations

At Saturday’s hearing Mursi, dressed in a white prison uniform, was held in a glass cage separate from codefendants, an AFP correspondent reported from the court

Of the 14 codefendants, seven were present, while the rest are being tried in absentia

Some of the co-defendants turned their backs on the proceedings and gave a four-fingered “Rabaa” salute, after welcoming Mursi when he entered his cage

The gesture refers to a massive pro-Mursi protest in Cairo’s Rabaa Al-Adawiya Square that was violently dispersed in August, setting off clashes in which hundreds of people, mostly conservatives, were killed

The third hearing of the trial — in which Mursi and his co-defendants are accused of inciting the killing of protesters in December 2012 outside the presidential palace — was being held at a heavily guarded police academy in Cairo

“This court has no jurisdiction to look into the case because Mursi is still the president and no official decision was taken for his ouster,” said lawyer Salim Al-Awa, a member of the defense team

The judge turned down a request by Mursi to speak at the proceedings

Prosecutors showed video footage at Saturday’s hearing of what they said were “supporters of defendants” chanting pro-Mursi slogans, carrying sticks and dismantling protest tents outside the presidential palace in December 2012

The footage also showed at least one alleged Muslim Brotherhood member firing a gun.