Retrial of Mubarak collapses in chaos

Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is wheeled out of an ambulance outside the Maadi military hospital following a hearing in Cairo yesterday. Photo: AFP

The judge in the retrial of Egypt's Hosni Mubarak recused himself yesterday, in a chaotic opening hearing that lasted just seconds and saw a proud and combative Mubarak smile and wave in the dock.
Head judge Mostafa Hassan Abdallah told the court he would send the case to the Court of Appeal, which will then refer the trial to a new circuit, sending the fate of the ousted strongman back to square one.
As the judges filed out of the courtroom, uproar erupted with people shouting and waving their arms. Civil society lawyers attending the trial chanted: "The people want the execution of the president."
In October, the same judge had acquitted the defendants in the infamous "Battle of the Camels" trial, who were accused of sending men on camels and horses to break up a protest during the 2011 uprising that toppled Mubarak.
Mubarak, his former interior minister Habib al-Adly and six security chiefs were again in the dock -- albeit briefly -- for their alleged complicity in the murder and attempted murder of hundreds of peaceful protesters on January 25-31, 2011.
"This judge and this circuit acquitted all the defendants in the battle of the camels and there is a lot of doubt over their position. This prevents him from conducting this trial," said Amir Salem, a lawyer for the families of victims.
Months of rumours that Mubarak was in a coma or too weak to attend his retrial were put to rest yesterday as the former leader seemed healthy and strong as he sat in the defendants' cage, smiling and waving to supporters.
"We love you, big man!" a handful of his supporters yelled at him.
His sons Alaa and Gamal, who are also facing a new trial for corruption, also appeared to be in good spirits as they smiled and chatted to their father.
His original trial in August 2011 was a major moment for both Egypt and the region, being the first time an Arab leader deposed by his people had appeared in court in person.
Mubarak, who turns 85 in May, has suffered several health scares and MENA even reported him clinically dead at one point as he slipped into a coma.
In January, Egypt's highest court, the Court of Cassation, ordered a retrial for Mubarak after accepting an appeal against his life sentence, citing procedural failings.