25 June 2009 :
A Cairo court confirmed a death sentence against an Egyptian tycoon and an ex-cop hitman for the murder of a Lebanese pop star after the verdict was approved by the country's top cleric.Judge Al-Mohammedi Qunsua confirmed sentences of death by hanging for Hisham Talaat Mustafa and retired policeman Mohsen al-Sukkari for respectively ordering and carrying out the killing of Suzanne Tamim in a luxury Dubai apartment in July 2008.
The court initially issued its verdict in May, but in line with Islamic law, the death sentence had to be approved by the country's mufti.
Defendants can still appeal the decision, a justice official said.
(Sources: AFP, 25/06/2009)
