CAIRO - An Egyptian court dismissed Saturday a murder charge against former president Hosni Mubarak over the deaths of protesters during a 2011 uprising, after a dramatic retrial in which he defended his three-decade rule. The court also acquitted the ex-strongman of a corruption charge, but he will remain in detention because he is serving a three-year sentence in a separate graft case. Seven of his security commanders, including the feared former interior minister Habib al-Adly, were acquitted in connection with the deaths of some of the roughly 800 people killed during the revolt. Cheers broke out in the courtroom and Mubaraks two sons and co-defendants stooped down to kiss his forehead when the judge read out the verdict, as Mubarak, 86, lay in an upright stretcher inside the caged dock. Corruption charges against the sons, Alaa and Gamal, were also dropped. The usually stone-faced Mubarak, wearing his trademark shades, allowed himself a faint smile. He was later transported back to a Cairo military hospital where he is serving his sentence, appearing in a wheelchair from a balcony door to wave at supporters gathered at the gates. His lawyer Farid al-Deeb told AFP that the verdict was a good ruling that proved the integrity of Mubaraks era. An appeals court had overturned an initial life sentence for Mubarak in 2012 on a technicality. Saturdays verdict may also be appealed. Many Egyptians increasingly look to the former autocrats stable era with nostalgia in light of the turmoil that followed his overthrow. His successor Mohamed Morsi, a leader of the main Islamist opposition group under Mubarak, was toppled by the army himself in 2012 following massive protests. Mubaraks supporters leapt out of their benches in celebration when the judge pronounced the verdict, chanting: Say the truth, dont be scared -- Mubarak is innocent. Some rushed over to his lawyer to congratulate him. The ruling came after a retrial lasting more than a year in which many witnesses, including Mubaraks former police and intelligence commanders, appeared to exonerate him in their testimony.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 14:37:19 +0000