The Suez Criminal Court on Thursday adjourned to 11 April the trial of the Suez security chief and a number of police officers charged with killing 30 protesters during the 25 January revolution in response to a request made by the father of one of the victim’s for a change of judges.
Defense lawyers requested a postponement, as a number of defendants were absent from the trial, but the court rejected the request.
Meanwhile, an argument broke out between the victims’ families and security forces outside of the court after the families were prevented from entering the building until they underwent a security check. The argument escalated after the families removed the iron barriers and security gates, after which they opened the door by force and entered the court room. Dozens of security personnel were then called on to contain the situation.
A civil rights attorney said the victims’ families felt they were being treated unfairly as the officers’ families were all allowed into the courtroom while they were not.
Over 800 people were killed during the 25 January uprising which ousted former President Hosni Mubarak, many outside police stations.
The North Cairo Criminal Court acquitted officers from the Salam Police Station in Cairo of similar charges late last month. Attorney General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud appealed against the acquittal of six police officers on charges of killing protesters in Cairo’s Sayeda Zeinab neighborhood during the 25 January uprising.
The Damietta Criminal Court adjourned a similar trial for Damietta police officers until May.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
