CAIRO: After being fined LE 200 for not showing for his scheduled testimony at court on Sunday, the Nagaa Hammadi Bishop Kirollos will be present at Tuesday’s hearing, according to Ramsis El-Naggar, lawyer associated with the Coptic Orthodox church
El-Naggar declared on Monday that the bishop of Nagaa Hammadi, Bishop Kirollos, will testify in the trial.
This announcement came shortly after the Qena Supreme Emergency State Security Criminal Court decided on Sunday to adjourn to Tuesday the trial for Nagaa Hammadi shooting, which left six Christians and one Muslim dead on Jan. 6.
The court had decided on Sunday to fine Bishop Kirollos LE 200 after he failed to appear at the court hearing.
El-Naggar said in an interview with Daily News Egypt that Kirollos will appear in court Tuesday despite being ill. El-Naggar also indicated that the court will cancel the fine imposed on Kirollos for his prior absence.
“Bishop Kirollos did not decline to appear at the court hearing, but he was too ill to attend,” said El-Naggar. “We respect the court and cannot go against it. I will personally accompany the Bishop to the court as long as this is what justice requires.”
The court session was held under tight security. Every street leading towards the courthouse was closed, with security forces spread out everywhere. Both lawyers and journalists alike were subject to security inspections prior to entering the trial.
The court also examined the evidence presented on Monday, and listened to testimony from the case’s chief forensic doctor, as well as from Colonel Abdel-Hakim Al-Alky, of the Nagaa Hammadi police station.
