Mubarak and other former senior officials face murder charges © AP GraphicsBank
The legal proceedings against former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak opened without drama today.
But for the family members of those killed in the Jan. 25 uprising, the sight of the former president in a criminal court docket was deeply emotional.
Today’s proceedings were straightforward, with Mubarak entering a “not guilty” plea and lawyers from both sides presenting statements; the trial won’t reconvene until Aug. 15.
But during the session, there was Mubarak, lying in a special bed inside the cage for Egyptian criminal defendants. While he was lying in the bed, many observers indicated his health looked pretty strong, belying pre-trial reports coming from his camp that he was near death.