The judge presiding over the Battle of the Camel trial summoned on Saturday presidential finalist Ahmed Shafiq and a high profile military commander to testify.
Responding to requests by the defendants’ lawyers, Judge Moustafa Hassan Abdallah summoned Shafiq, head of the Central Command Zone General Ahmed al-Roweiny, and three TV talk show hosts.
The incident occurred on 2 February last year, when thousands of people attacked pro-democracy protesters in Tahrir Square. It came to be known as the "Battle of the Camel" because at one point the pro-Mubarak attackers made use of horses and camels, charging through the protesters.
In Saturday's session, the defendants’ lawyers accused the Muslim Brotherhood of planning of the attack. The defense submitted a CD containing scenes from the well-known battle, which continued well into 3 February.
Twenty-four businessmen and leaders of the dissolved National Democratic Party are now facing charges of killing demonstrators in the case. Among the suspects are Fathi Sorour, former speaker in the lower house of Parliament, and Safwat al-Sherif, former head of Parliament's upper house.
The defense demanded the testimony of Roweiny, Shafiq and Mohamed al-Beltagy, a Muslim Brotherhood leader and Freedom and Justice Party MP.
In its last session, held on 17 May, the New Cairo court watched 11 video and audio recordings submitted by the defense.
The recordings included speeches by and interviews with Sherif and Sorour after a meeting of National Democratic Party senior members on 27 January 2011, calling for calm, and saying demonstrations should not be attacked in order to preserve the unity of the nation. Other recordings were submitted of the defendants during the days of the 18-day uprising.
Sherif addressed the court from the dock, saying: “the statements of the prosecution's witnesses are without proof. I'm not an evil man; I am politician.”
After viewing the recordings of himself, Sorour was led out of the dock in a state of anger. He recited a verse from the Quran: “And mix not up truth with falsehood, nor hide the truth while you know.”
Sorour handed the court a portfolio of documents that included a copy of the Universal Declaration on Democracy, issued by himself. He also demanded the drafts of the 1971 Constitution to clarify that he was involved in its preparation, particularly of articles 3 and 4 concerning private freedoms and public rights.
