by Tolu Orekoya

Former Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak has been handed a sentence of life imprisonment for his part in the deaths of protesters killed during the uprising and protests that forced him out of power last year.  His minister of the interior, Habib el-Adili also received a life sentence, but Mubarak’s sons, who were also on trial, were acquitted of all charges and set free.

According to The Guardian:

People at the court in Cairo reacted angrily to the acquittal of Mubarak’s sons and a series of interior ministry officials and police chiefs. The crowd chanted,”False judgements.” and “The people want to clean the judicial system.” and fights broke out.

The sentencing did not go down well, especially with the families of the victims. According to CNN, a melee broke out in the court as punches were thrown, and other family members climbed on to chairs insisting that the sentence, given by the presiding judge, Ahmed Refaat should have been much harsher. Both the judge and Mubarak were removed from the court by the police for their safety.

The scene outside the court had both protesters and supports of Mubarak with their signs of support.

From CNN:

Mubarak and his sons arrived Saturday morning at the Cairo Police Academy, where the trial was held, under tight security. Police in riot gear lined up behind a barricade separating them from demonstrators.

Hundreds outside the court chanted: “Execution is the only solution” and “He who kills must die.”

Hosni Mubarak was president of Egypt for 30 years before finally being ousted from power in February 2011, the second president to be removed as a result of the Arab Springs. During most part of the trial, he appeared in a sick bed, having fallen ill soon after he was deposed.