North Cairo Criminal Court acquitted on Thursday Captain Islam Saeed Hafez, an officer at the Ain Shams police department, of killing one protester during last year’s January uprising against the rule of ousted President Hosni Mubarak.
This is the second innocence verdict given to a police officer accused of killing demonstrators.
The only policeman to be dealt the death penalty, Mohamed Ibrahim Abdel Moneim, is currently undergoing a retrial.
Hafez's relatives were infuriated when Judge Mohamed Shokry ordered them out of the courtroom before delivering his verdict.
Following the ruling, which comes after seven sessions, Hafez said he had confidence in the justice system, swearing that he had not killed any protesters but was, rather, protecting the police department from being stormed.
Prosecutors had referred the officer to criminal court after the family of Mohamed Sayyed Ahmed, 22, accused him of shooting their son during a peaceful protest outside the police station.
In late December, another court acquitted six policemen from the Sayeda Zeinab police station on similar charges.
At least 800 people were killed during the 18 days of protests that toppled Mubarak last February, and more than 6,000 were wounded by live ammunition, rubber bullets, water cannons and batons.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
