Egypt’s Public Prosecution office in Alexandria referred on Sunday two monks to criminal trial over the murder of Bishop Epiphanius, head of the Saint Macarius Monastery at Wadi al-Natroun.
The Public Prosecution charged Ash’eyaa al-Makary (Wael Saad Tawadros) and Faltaous al-Makary (Raymon Rasmy Mansour) with premeditated murder.
Ash’eyaa confessed to the killing earlier this month, and was deprived of his ecclesiastical rank over behavior that violated his duties.
He said that he worked alongside with fellow monk Faltaous to carry out the killing. Faltaous later attempted suicide on August 6 to escape punishment, and is currently under police watch at the Anglo American Hospital in Zamalek while he recovers.
Ash’eyaa explained that he hit Epiphanius three times on his head using an iron tube, which was prepared for the crime. He added that his partner in the crime Faltaous had been making sure the coast was clear until the deed was done.
The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria announced the Bishop’s sudden death on July 29.
Bishop Epiphanius was found dead in front of his own monastic cell surrounded by a pool of blood. Monks at the scene immediately notified the Wadi al-Natroun police, who discovrered that the Bishop had fractures in the back of his skull, leading to suspicion of murder.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
