The Cairo Criminal Court sentenced a police officer to 10 years on Monday, as he was found guilty of killing Shaimaa Al-Sabbaghs, member of the Socialist Popular Alliance Party (SPAP), whose death sparked local and international controversy.
The defendant, Yassin Saleh, an officer at the Central Security Forces unit at the Ministry of Interior, was sentenced in June 2015 to a strict 15-year-term in prison after being charged with shooting Al-Sabbagh to death, amid the use of unjustified violence during a short and peaceful march.
Al-Sabbagh and other party members were marching on 24 January 2015, carrying flowers in commemoration of those who died during the 25 January Revolution. Security forces at first denied using force against protesters; however, as the details of the case started to unfold, Salah was proved guilty and was sentenced on to serve a strict 15-year prison term on 11 June 2015.
Last October, the Cassation Court annulled the verdict and granted the defendant a retrial.
On 24 January 2015, the day of the incident, journalists obtained footage of the events, including videos that were later used by prosecutors against Salah.
