9 Jan 2014

Morsi fails to appear at trial

8:04 am on 9 January 2014

A court in Egypt has adjourned the trial of deposed Islamist president Mohammed Morsi until February after officials said bad weather had prevented him being flown to court.

Mr Morsi and several of his former officials are accused of inciting the killing of protesters in 2012. The former president was removed by the army last July after demonstrations against his rule.

He had been due in court on Tuesday for the second session of his trial, in which he could face the death penalty, the BBC reports.

Other defendants arrived by helicopter at the National Police Academy in Cairo where the trial was due to be held, and state media had initially said Mr Morsi was also there.

However state news agency Mena later said his arrival had been delayed by bad weather.

Riot police stand guard outside the National Police Academy in Cairo.

Riot police stand guard outside the National Police Academy in Cairo. Photo: AFP

Mr Morsi is being held 210km away at Burj al-Arab prison west of Alexandria, where the weather was cloudy and windy, but there was no mention of weather-related cancellations on the city airport's website.

When Mr Morsi does return to court, he will be asked to appoint a lawyer, which he refused to do during his initial appearance. The next hearing is scheduled for 1 February.