Witnesses to killing of Egyptian activist acquitted by Cairo court

Seventeen Egyptian activists who had been witness to the killing of Shaimaa al-Sabagh in January were acquitted by a Cairo court on Saturday.

The activists were charged with ''illegally protesting" as they took part in a peaceful march near Tahrir Square on 24 January during which Sabagh was killed. 

In May, a court decision acquitted the defendants. The prosecution then appealed against the acquittal.

The 32-year-old mother Sabagh was shot dead while heading to Tahrir Square in a march which aimed to memorialise those killed during the 25 January, 2011 uprising. 

The defendants who had taken part in the same march had been witness to the killing of Sabagh. 

They came forward to testify in investigations of her killing, but were later charged by the general prosecutor.

Fourteen of the defendants belong to the Socialist Popular Alliance Party, like Sabagh.

Among the defendants was Azza Soliman, a lawyer and the founder of the Centre for Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance.

Soliman testified that the march was peaceful, that there were no more than 30 people carrying flowers and banners, and that masked police officers attacked demonstrators with tear gas and birdshot, she told MEE in January.

She also said that she testified that she was sure that masked police had killed Sabagh.

The prosecution previously said investigations revealed Sabagh died from wounds sustained from "light birdshot" that a Central Security Forces officer fired at her and other protesters, reported Alahram Online.