Trial of 20 defendants accused of beheading Copts in Libya adjourned

CAIRO - 15 Aug 2017: The Cairo Criminal Court decided on Tuesday to adjourn until Saturday the trial of 20 defendants who are members of a Daesh-affiliated terror cell in Marsa Matrouh.

The defendants face charges of joining military training camps of Daesh terrorist group in Libya and Syria, in addition to beheading 21 Egyptian Christians working in Libya.

The court delayed the case for more hearing sessions.

The crime of slaughtering the Egyptian workers was filmed by the terrorist group and released in February 2015.

Explosive materials as well as CDs featuring military training of Daesh militants, were seized in their possession.

The High State Security Prosecution in November 2016 referred the defendants, including five who are still at large, to criminal court.

The defendants denied the charges against them.