Egypt's Mubarak Gets Life Imprisonment in Historic Trial
Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has received a sentence of life in prison for complicity in the killing of hundreds of anti-government protesters during last year's 18-day uprising that forced him to resign on February 11. Mubarak's interior minister Habib al-Adly received similar sentence. Adly's six deputies were acquitted.
The verdict was given in a makeshift court, a lecture hall once named after Mubarak in the police academy in Cairo, amid unprecedented security. Crowds outside the court shouted as they watched the event live on a giant screen.
Mubarak was grim-faced and silent as Presiding Judge Ahmed Refaat handed down the life sentence. Lawyers for the 84-year-old former leader plan to appeal.
Mubarak's two sons, Alaa and Gamal, were acquitted on corruption charges.
VOA correspondent Elizabeth Arrott reports on Twitter that scuffles broke out in the Cairo courtroom after the verdicts for Mubarak's sons were announced.
Voice of America
