Egypt court jails ousted president Morsi for 20 years

Apr 21, 2015 4:32 PM PHT

Agence France-Presse

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Egypt court jails ousted president Morsi for 20 years

NAMIR GALAL / ALMASRY ALYOUM

(UPDATED) But the court acquits Morsi – Egypt's first freely elected president – of murder charges that could have seen him sentenced to death over the killings of a journalist and two protesters

CAIRO, Egypt (UPDATED) – An Egyptian court on Tuesday, April 21, sentenced ousted president Mohamed Morsi and 12 other defendants to 20 years in jail for involvement in the arrests and torture of protesters during his rule.

But the court acquitted Morsi – Egypt’s first freely elected president – of murder charges that could have seen him sentenced to death over the killings of a journalist and two protesters during clashes outside a presidential palace in 2012.

Morsi, a leader of the now blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood movement, and the other defendants were charged with “using violence and arresting and torturing protesters” during the December 5, 2012 clashes.

Two other defendants were sentenced to 10 years on the same charges.

Defence lawyers said Tuesday’s verdict will be appealed. – Rappler.com