18 Jan 2012

Defence for former Egyptian president opens case

1:31 pm on 18 January 2012

The lawyer defending former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak against charges he ordered the killing of protesters says his client is the victim of malicious talk.

The defence has opened its case in a Cairo court, saying Mr Mubarak is a man of 83, worn down by illness after devoting his life to the service of his nation.

Mr Mubarak is accused of ordering the killing of demonstrators during unrest which led to his resignation last year.

The BBC reports that he was wheeled into the hearing on a stretcher.

Mr Mubarak's two sons are facing charges of corruption in the same trial.