The North Cairo Court on Monday adjourned the trial of two defendants accused of stealing a weapon belonging to the Armed Forces during the Maspero violence to 2 October due to the absence of witnesses.
On 9 October 2011, 28 people were killed in clashes between the army and protesters after security forces violently dispersed a Coptic-led march outside the state television building.
Widely circulated video clips showed armored vehicles running over protesters, but army officials said the killings occurred by mistake and accused protesters of assaulting the Armed Forces and "infiltrators" of stealing the vehicles that were seen mowing down demonstrators.
Maikel Adel Naguib and Maikel Mossad Shaker are accused of stealing a machine gun from an armored vehicle, incitement, and attempting to break into the state television building, as well as damaging public and private property.
Monday's session was meant to be devoted to witness testimony, specifically testimony from soldiers who were manning the armored vehicle when the weapon was allegedly stolen, but the witnesses were absent. The session only lasted for a few minutes.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
