In Egypt, Morsy’s trial gets off to a rough start

Mohamed Morsy, Egypt’s first freely elected President, has been charged with encouraging violence and ordering an attack on protestors back in December. The trial began on Monday, and Morsy and his co-defendants began arguing with the judge right away, claiming Morsy to still be the President, and denying the charges. “I warn everyone that what’s happening is a cover for the military coup,” Morsy said. “I don’t want the great Egyptian judiciary to ever serve as a cover for the standing military coup.” When the judge first spoke to the defense lawyers, Morsy interrupted, “I am Dr. Mohamed Morsy, the President of the republic. The coup is a crime.”
Before the trial even began, co-defendants of Morsy’s were yelling, “down with military rule,” and some of the 20 defense lawyers were saying, “the people support the resilience of the President.” Also, outside the court, demonstrators were protesting the trial and even attacking the reporters at one point.
Several recesses occurred during the first day of the trial, but even then, fights broke out, and journalists argued with the lawyers, calling for Morsy to be executed. Eventually, the judge decided to adjourn the trial until January 8.