Egypt unrest: Mohammed Morsi absence halts Cairo trial

The trial of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi has been adjourned after officials said bad weather had stopped his helicopter from taking off.

Other defendants arrived at the police compound by helicopter but Mr Morsi was still said to be in Alexandria.

One of them shouted in court that the trial was unconstitutional.

Mr Morsi and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood figures are accused of inciting the killing of protesters outside a presidential palace in 2012.

He was removed by the army last July after demonstrations against his rule.

His supporters have since held regular protests calling for his reinstatement.

A helicopter carrying some of the defendants arrived at the National Police Academy complex in Cairo for the hearing early on Wednesday, correspondents said.

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Three trials of Mohammed Morsi

  • Incitement of supporters to commit violence and murder during break-up of December 2012 protest
  • Conspiring with foreign organisations (Hamas and Hezbollah) to commit terrorist acts
  • Murder of prison officers in prison jailbreak during 2011 uprising against President Mubarak

State media had initially said Mr Morsi was also there; however, state news agency Mena later said his arrival had been delayed by bad weather.

The court session began at about 11:15 (09:15 GMT) but was immediately adjourned until 1 February, a decision that the presiding judge put down to weather conditions, the BBC’s Orla Guerin reports.

Outside the court the sun was shining and the forecast for Alexandria was little different.