Egyptian court overturns Mubarak conviction

The life sentence of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was overturned by an appeals court on Sunday, January 13. Mubarak was sentenced to life in 2012 for directing the killing of protesters who sought an end to his 3-decade rule. The judge who handed down the verdict said he was ruling on a conviction on the principle of presidential responsibility even as he saw no evidence of Mubarak personally ordering or directing the killings. More than 800 were killed in the 3 weeks of protests that preceded Mubarak’s ouster. His lawyer said ordering a new trial for the same crimes on the basis of the prosecution’s failure to produce evidence was tantamount to double jeopardy. The ruling by the appeals court could prolong the legal battle over the fate of the 84-year-old Mubarak who has been held in a military hospital for health reasons.

Read the full story in the New York Times.