JURIST - Paper Chase: Mubarak trial to be held at new location outside Cairo

[JURIST] The trial of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak [Al Jazeera profile; JURIST news archive] will be held at a police academy located on the outer border of Cairo, an Egyptian judge announced Saturday. Officials chose the new location for the added security [AP report], after reporting [JURIST report] Thursday that the trial would take place at a convention center in downtown Cairo. Mubarak faces several charges [JURIST report], including murder, attempted killing of protesters and other charges related to general abuse of power [Al Jazeera report], as a result of his response to pro-democracy demonstrations in Egypt [JURIST news archive] earlier this year. Mubarak will face trial with his two sons, six deputies and a businessman who also face corruption charges. The trial date for Mubarak is set for August 3 in front of the Cairo Criminal Court [JURIST report]. The judge heading the court has promised a speedy trial [AFP report] and will allow the proceedings to air on national television.

Last week, an Egyptian criminal court postponed the trial [JURIST report] of former interior minister Habib el-Adly, who also faces murder charges in relation to the pro-democracy demonstrations, until August 3. Mubarak was hospitalized in April [JURIST report], just days before he was scheduled to appear before Egypt's public prosecutor for questioning about his alleged roles in protester deaths and embezzlement of government money. In March, a commission of Arab and Egyptian human rights groups accused Mubarak [JURIST report] and the police of murdering protesters during the demonstrations in Egypt. Mubarak could face the death penalty [JURIST report] if convicted of ordering attacks on protesters. Rights group Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website] has reported that at least 840 people were killed [JURIST report], and more than 6,000 were injured, during the Egyptian protests.