Former President Hosni Mubarak arrived Tuesday at the Police Academy in the Fifth Settlement, where he is being tried by Cairo Criminal Court for involvement in killing protesters and corruption charges.
Police and military forces have imposed tight security around the court.
Farid al-Deeb, Mubarak's lawyer, began pleading the defense's case by harshly criticizing the prosecution, which concluded its case 10 days ago. Deeb said that prosecutors sidestepped trial ethics and guidelines, and in doing so upset the former president and his family.
Deeb said that the prosecution was wrong to focus on Mubarak's intent to transfer power to his younger son, Gamal, an allegation not covered in the ex-president's indictment. He also said that the prosecution addressed Mubarak's wife, Suzanne, in an insulting manner despite her not being included in the lawsuit, which pained her husband and children.
He denounced the prosecution's decision to unnecessarily mention Suzanne Mubarak's alleged seizure of funds from the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, noting that the prosecution had already decided these claims were baseless.
Deeb pointed to Article 1130 of prosecution ethics, which requires prosecutors to respect defendants and refrain from defaming or condemning them without evidence.
Before Tuesday's session began, head Judge Ahmed Refaat said that judges see nothing but the truth and justice, after which he recited two relevant verses from the Quran.
He added that according to Egyptian law, the defense has a right to comment on the prosecution's case.
Deeb was expected to begin the deposed leader's defense with a speech about Mubarak's legacy, various news agencies have reported. He would then address the charges against him.
On 3 January, lead prosecutor Mostafa Suleiman delivered what many believed to be the harshest assessment of the former president ever heard in an Egyptian courtroom.
Suleiman accused the 84-year-old Mubarak of tyranny and corruption, saying he had devoted the last 10 years of his three decades in power to ensuring that his son would succeed him.
“He deserves to end up with humiliation and indignity, from the presidential palace to the defendant's cage, and then [get] the harshest penalty,” said Suleiman, whose hour-long speech mesmerized the courtroom at the academy, which once bore the former leader's name.
Mubarak arrived by helicopter from the International Medical Center off the Cario-Ismailia road. After landing near the court building, he was guided into the courtroom in a wheelchair.
Being tried along with Mubarak are former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and six security officials, who also are charged with involvement in killing protesters. Mubarak, his sons Alaa and Gamal, and businessman Hussein Salem, who is currently in Spanish custody, also face various corruption charges.
The Cairo Criminal Court will hear the defense's case until 16 February.
Correction: This story had incorrectly stated that former President Hosni Mubarak was carried into the courtroom on a gurney.
