Qena Criminal Court adjourned on Tuesday the trial of 13 police officers, who were charged with the torture and killing a Luxor resident, to 9 April to listen to arguments from the defence and prosecution.
The court finished listening to all testimonies on Tuesday and will await the next session to hear arguments from both sides, rights lawyer Malek Adly, who is attending the case on behalf of the family of the victim, Talaat Shabeb, told Daily News Egypt.
Shabeb was arrested in November on suspicion of possessing drugs. He was taken to a Luxor police station, wherein it is alleged that he was tortured to death.
Four commissioned police officers and nine non-commissioned police officers are defendants in the case.
Shebeb’s case has received the support of human rights organisations and lawyers. Both groups attended the trial in his defence.
Ragia Omran, a lawyer and member of the state-affiliated National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), announced that, upon the request of the victim’s family, the council will join the case as a civil plaintiff and she will represent them.
The death of Shabeb sparked anger in Luxor, leading to minor protests and demonstrations.
