Sunday, January 13, 2013

Court Overturns Life Sentence Against Egypt's Mubarak; Orders Retrial

Egyptians supporters of ousted former President Hosni Mubarak celebrate an appeal granted by a court, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday.

Amr Nabil/AP

Egyptians supporters of ousted former President Hosni Mubarak celebrate an appeal granted by a court, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday.

Egyptians supporters of ousted former President Hosni Mubarak celebrate an appeal granted by a court, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday.

Amr Nabil/AP

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is getting a retrial on charges connected to the killing of protesters during the country's uprising, NPR's Leila Fadel reports. Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison last June.

Fadel says supporters are gathering outside the hospital where Mubarak is being treated. Opponents who thought the sentence wasn't enough are also welcoming the news. She tells our Newscast Desk:

"Mubarak, his minister of Interior, Habib el-Adly, and Adly's deputies will all be tried again, an Egyptian court ruled [Sunday]. Mubarak and Adli were previously given a life sentence for failing to stop the killing of some 1,000 demonstrators. Adly's deputies were all acquitted.

"Many Egyptians felt the trial was filled with problems and the sentences were not strong enough.

"The defendant's lawyers appealed the sentences and Egypt's general prosecutor appealed the acquittals."

Fadel says Mubarak would have been released Sunday, but he is being detained for an investigation into separate charges.

 
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