The postponement of El-Adly's trial until 3 August sparks anger from martyrs' families, but the decision to prosecute him alongside Mubarak is seen by many as a tangible step towards justice @font-face { font-family: "Times"; }@font-face { font-family: "ＭＳ 明朝"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria; }p { margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times; }.MsoChpDefault { font-family: Cambria; }div.WordSection1 { page: WordSection1; } Cairo's criminal court delayed until 3 August the trial of former minister of interior Habib El-Adly, accused of ordering the killing of peaceful protesters during the January 25 Revolution. The postponement was met by anger from the martyrs' families, although the verdict to prosecute him alongside ex-president Hosni Mubarak was regarded as a tangible step towards justice. Mubarak, who faces similar charges, was previously set to be tried in a separate trial but now all defendants indicted on charges of murdering demonstrators -- including the ex-president andEl-Adly -- will stand trial at the same time. The supreme judge announced the postponement of the trial on Monday morning. “El-Adly's trial and Mubarak's are related to each other, so they will both be tried on 3 August,” he stated from the podium in an unprecedented televised session. Upon hearing the judge's decision, one protester who was shot in the stomach during the revolution approached the defendants' cell and spat on El-Adly. He was badly beaten up by security personnel and kicked out of the courtroom, according to Ahram Online reporter Lina El-Wardani who attended the session. The gathering was followed by protests from martyrs' families calling for retribution, which took place amid stepped-up security. Vehicles transporting the defendants were stoned, in what has become a recurrent scene. Outside the courthouse people gathered to chant pro-justice slogans and decry the decision to delay El-Adly's trial for the fourth time. Commenting on having El-Adly and other defendants stand trial alongside Mubarak, lawyer Ahmed Fawzy told Ahram Online: “It's a good move for sure, there was no reason to try Mubarak separately. “But other people should have been put in the same trial as well; Omar Suleiman should be among the defendants as he was appointed vice president during the January 25 Revolution. “Mahmoud Wagdi, who was installed as interior minister after the sacking of El-Adly, should be prosecuted too as the killing was still going on under his rule. “But overall it's a good step. Airing the trial for the first time also added credibility. Personally, I had my doubts that El-Adly would appear in the courtroom.” On 2 July, El-Adly was sentenced to five years in prison for squandering public funds in the infamous car plates case. He was given a 12-year sentence in May on corruption charges. If he is found guilty of ordering the killing of demonstrators, El-Adly may face the death penalty.
