The statement of Farid al-Deeb, lawyer for ousted President Hosni Mubarak, in Thursday’s court session raised anger among the plaintiff families of the martyrs who were killed during the 25 January revolution.
The families had gathered before the court building, carrying pictures of the martyrs and demanding the execution of the defendant. They clashed with Mubarak supporters who were dancing and singing, raising the Saudi flag to provoke them.
They criticized the media for holding interviews with Mubarak supporters.
“Deeb must be tried too,” said Youssef Abdel Maqsoud, father of a martyr. “How can he say Mubarak was with the demonstrators?”
Lawyers for the plaintiffs said Deeb found legal loopholes in favor of Mubarak, but added that they would refute them in a memo.
“Him saying there is no evidence that the police shot the demonstrators makes no sense,” one of the lawyers said.
Regarding Deeb’s statement that the police acted in self-defense, the lawyers said video clips showed snipers on top of public buildings shooting demonstrators in Tahrir Square. “This was not in self-defense,” they said.
Deeb said Thursday that since Mubarak is the Egyptian air force commander for life — as decreed in a 1979 law — only a military court has the authority to try him on corruption charges.
Mubarak's trial been adjourned to Saturday. He is facing charges of killing protesters and financial corruption.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
