Egypt court sentences 8 to death for violence

By Sayed Fathy and Mustafa Eid

CAIRO

An Egyptian court on Tuesday sentenced eight people to death for committing violence following the 2013 coup against former President Mohamed Morsi.

The court also slapped 50 people with life in prison, seven with a 10-year jail term each and three with a 5-year jail term each for similar charges, a judicial source said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to media.

The defendants were convicted of attacking a police station south of Cairo in 2013 and killing five people, including three policemen.

Tuesday’s verdicts are still subject to appeal.

Egypt was roiled by turmoil when the military deposed Morsi, the country's first freely elected president, in 2013.

Following Morsi’s ouster, Egyptian authorities launched a relentless crackdown on his supporters and his Muslim Brotherhood group, killing hundreds and sending thousands behind bars.