CAIRO: The trial of Egypt's ousted dictator Hosni Mubarak got underway again on Wednesday, a day after his defense team said there was “no evidence” linking Mubarak to orders to shoot protesters during the 18 days of protests that led to his downfall. Farid al-Deeb, the lead lawyer for the 83-year-old former leader, praised Mubarak, and said the court could not convict the man activists and families of those killed in January and February last year say is responsible for their deaths. “It is like saying the commander of a military doesn't hold responsibility when his soldiers kill people,” said Ahmed, a brother of one of those killed in the uprising. He told Bikyamasr.com that “for the lawyers to say there is no evidence is to say he wasn't in control of the country. If that is the case, then who was running things?” Some 1,000 people were killed in the massive street protests that began on January 25, 2011, and lasted until February 11, when then-Vice-President Omar Suleiman announced Mubarak was stepping down as president and the military was taking power. Activists and families of the victims of the uprising have demanded justice, telling Bikyamasr.com from the court they “expect Mubarak to face the same fate as our loved ones for what he did to this country.” There are worries that anything less than the death penalty could spark massive outrage ahead of January 25, when activists hope to galvanize thousands for anti-military protests. “I don't know what would happen if he is not found guilty and sentenced to death,” said Mona Omar, a young 22-year-old law student who has been assisting families in delivering testimony to legal counsel. She told Bikyamasr.com that “if Mubarak is not put to death, I think the country will revolt and the military knows this so it will be interesting to watch. There is a lot of anger on the ground. I feel it.” Though buzz over Mubarak's potential sentencing continues, Egyptian law solidifies this impossibility, mandating that seniors over the age of 80 can only receive a maximum sentencing of 15 years in prison. Likewise, Egyptian law allows the state's executive authority to repeal any death penalty sentencing within 14 days. With the boundaries of executive power blurred by Egypt's interim ruling Military Council, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) could also harness the power to overturn the court's pending decision. Mubarak, his former minister of interior Habib al-Adly and 6 top aides are on trial for killing protesters during the 18 days of the popular uprising that ousted the president and brought the former regime down. They also face charges of financial corruption and importing Egyptian gas to Israel for prices lower than the international rate. The violence used by the police left some 1,000 people dead and hundreds more injured. Families of those who lost their lives in the clashes late in January and early February, gathered outside the courtroom holding signs demanding swift justice. Mubarak, who is reportedly suffering from severe depression, was flown in a private jet to the court from his private, highly secured medical wing at the International Medical Center, where he is being treated instead of the prison hospital, whose defense claim is not ready for his “condition.” The committee assigned by the attorney general to assess Mubarak's condition recommended that he stay at the same place, “as he could be in danger of a stroke or a heart attack” if he is to be moved. The army and police are cooperating in securing the trial in unprecedented security measures to make sure Mubarak is safe. Mubarak's two sons, Gamal and Alaa, are also on trial for financial corruption and are accused of using their positions as the president's sons to seal illegal deals, raising the family's fortune to tens of millions of dollars. Mubarak was positioning his son Gamal to succeed him in ruling the country, fueling public anger and protests over the past 7 years in opposition to the alleged power transfer plan. ** Manar Ammar and Sarah Sheffer contributed to this report. BM
