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Egypt court to deliver Mubarak trial verdict on 2 June Egypt court to deliver Mubarak trial verdict on 2 June
(about 6 hours later)
The judge in the trial of Egypt's former President Hosni Mubarak has said he will deliver his verdict on 2 June.The judge in the trial of Egypt's former President Hosni Mubarak has said he will deliver his verdict on 2 June.
On the final day of six months of hearings, Mr Mubarak turned down the chance to address the court.On the final day of six months of hearings, Mr Mubarak turned down the chance to address the court.
His former interior minister, who is also on trial, blamed "foreigners" for the deaths of protesters last February.His former interior minister, who is also on trial, blamed "foreigners" for the deaths of protesters last February.
The two men deny ordering the killing of protesters during the uprising that forced the former dictator to step down after three decades in power.The two men deny ordering the killing of protesters during the uprising that forced the former dictator to step down after three decades in power.
The former Interior Minister, Habib al-Adly, addressed the court for an hour and a half during the final hearing on Wednesday, according to Egyptian state media.The former Interior Minister, Habib al-Adly, addressed the court for an hour and a half during the final hearing on Wednesday, according to Egyptian state media.
Mr Mubarak told the judge he had no comment.Mr Mubarak told the judge he had no comment.
Outside the court, demonstrators called for the death penalty for Hosni Mubarak. But they were well outnumbered by the riot police.
The last day of the trial was a pale shadow to the dramatic opening scenes last August when the former president was wheeled into court on a stretcher.
Since then, remarkably little has emerged to shed light on what happened during the 18 days of revolution last year.
The prosecution says Mr Mubarak bears personal responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of protesters. The defence has suggested that the demonstrators were killed by unknown gunmen, possibly even foreigners.
Now the judges have just over three months to study the thousands of pages of evidence before delivering a verdict and sentence at the beginning of June.
"What the lawyer said is enough," he said, according to Associated Press news agency."What the lawyer said is enough," he said, according to Associated Press news agency.
Both men could face the death penalty if convicted, along with six senior police officers, who are co-defendants.Both men could face the death penalty if convicted, along with six senior police officers, who are co-defendants.
Mr Mubarak's two sons - one-time heir apparent Gamal, and Alaa - are facing separate charges of corruption with their father in the same trial.Mr Mubarak's two sons - one-time heir apparent Gamal, and Alaa - are facing separate charges of corruption with their father in the same trial.
The business tycoon, Hussein Salem, is also being tried in absentia.The business tycoon, Hussein Salem, is also being tried in absentia.
All the defendants have denied the charges.All the defendants have denied the charges.
The former dictator has been held in a military hospital since the trial began last year.The former dictator has been held in a military hospital since the trial began last year.
Prosecutors told the court at Wednesday's hearing that the medical wing of Cairo's Tura prison was now ready to receive Mr Mubarak, according to Agence France-Presse news agency.Prosecutors told the court at Wednesday's hearing that the medical wing of Cairo's Tura prison was now ready to receive Mr Mubarak, according to Agence France-Presse news agency.
Powerful figuresPowerful figures
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says Mr Mubarak's trial has never really lived up to its opening moment of drama in August, when the 83-year-old was wheeled into court on a stretcher, despite claims that he was too ill to appear.The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says Mr Mubarak's trial has never really lived up to its opening moment of drama in August, when the 83-year-old was wheeled into court on a stretcher, despite claims that he was too ill to appear.
In his closing remarks on Monday, chief prosecutor Mustafa Suleiman said of the trial: "This is not a case about the killing of one or 10 or 20 civilians, but a case of an entire nation."In his closing remarks on Monday, chief prosecutor Mustafa Suleiman said of the trial: "This is not a case about the killing of one or 10 or 20 civilians, but a case of an entire nation."
He told the court earlier that it was impossible that Mr Mubarak had not ordered police to open fire on protesters, leaving more than 800 dead.He told the court earlier that it was impossible that Mr Mubarak had not ordered police to open fire on protesters, leaving more than 800 dead.
The prosecution says it has taken testimony from 2,000 witnesses, including police officers who discussed orders from above to arm police with automatic rifles and shotguns to use against protesters.The prosecution says it has taken testimony from 2,000 witnesses, including police officers who discussed orders from above to arm police with automatic rifles and shotguns to use against protesters.
Our correspondent says that though most observers believe the trial has been conducted relatively fairly, the prosecution maintains that it has been denied access to some of the most important evidence.Our correspondent says that though most observers believe the trial has been conducted relatively fairly, the prosecution maintains that it has been denied access to some of the most important evidence.
The court has not heard logs of calls from the interior ministry in the crucial hours when many of the protesters were killed, prosecutors say, and many key insiders have not given evidence while others have only appeared behind closed doors.The court has not heard logs of calls from the interior ministry in the crucial hours when many of the protesters were killed, prosecutors say, and many key insiders have not given evidence while others have only appeared behind closed doors.
Defence lawyer Farid al-Deeb has said that the Egyptian army was in charge of security when protesters were killed.Defence lawyer Farid al-Deeb has said that the Egyptian army was in charge of security when protesters were killed.
He said Mr Mubarak had imposed a curfew on the afternoon of 28 January and transferred responsibility to the head of the army.He said Mr Mubarak had imposed a curfew on the afternoon of 28 January and transferred responsibility to the head of the army.
The police or interior ministry could therefore not have been ordered to open fire on demonstrations, he argued.The police or interior ministry could therefore not have been ordered to open fire on demonstrations, he argued.
But Mr Deeb did not accuse the army of ordering the killings. He said it had denied ever firing on protesters, and that he believed the army "because it does not lie".But Mr Deeb did not accuse the army of ordering the killings. He said it had denied ever firing on protesters, and that he believed the army "because it does not lie".
The judge reportedly has to review about 40,000 pages of documents before delivering his verdict.The judge reportedly has to review about 40,000 pages of documents before delivering his verdict.