07 February 2018 :

North Cairo Criminal court issues final verdict in the trial of a man charged with killing a Coptic priest and injuring another in Cairo.
Earlier, Ahmed El-Sonbaty who was detained on charges of killing the Coptic priest Rev. Semaan Shehata، referred to Egypt's Grand Mufti for opinion on death sentence. His lawyer، Mahmoud Orabi said that defendant is mentally ill، while prosecutor Nageeb Jibreel recommended capital punishment، saying that the suspect has deliberately committed a murderer killing Rev. Shehata. During today’s trial، Said handed a paper in his handwriting to the judge، admitting that former Ahly player Mohamed Aboutrika had incited him to commit the murder. His confession included other allegedly prominent Muslim Brotherhood (MB) affiliates، including Ahly former captain and director of the ball، Hady Khashaba، Mohammed Badie the Supreme Guide of the MB and his vise chairman Essam el Erian، who was also a member of the Guidance Bureau of the Muslim Brotherhood. The priest، Samaan Shehta، was attacked by a "young unemployed man" in front of his vehicle and was then hit in the head with a cleaver before the assailant ran away. A video of the attack was posted on Facebook and shows citizens attempting to aid the wounded priest on the ground.
Another priest who was with Shehta, identified as Benjamin Moftah, was also assaulted though his condition has not yet been revealed. The prosecution charged forty-year-old Ahmed El-Sonbaty with premeditated murder in the killing of Arc Priest Samaan Shehataa, who hailed from Beni Suef Governorate in Upper Egypt, in El-Salam City east pf Cairo last Thursday. Evidence against the defendant includes a confession، witness statements، and forensic evidence.