Egypt's prosecutor-general issues statement on Morsi's death

Ahram Online , Monday 17 Jun 2019

Morsi spoke for five minutes during a court session before he fell unconscious inside the trial cage

Egypt
Egypt's public prosecutor Nabil Sadek (Photo: Al-Ahram)

Egypt's Prosecutor-General Nabil Sadek has issued a statement on the death of Egypt's ousted president Mohamed Morsi, 67, who passed away on Monday in Cairo after suffering a heart attack during a trial session in an espionage case, according to Egyptian state TV.

The prosecutor-general said that during the trial and after hearing the defence of the second and third defendants in the case, the court granted Morsi permission to speak as per his request.

"Morsi spoke for five minutes before the court adjourned the hearing and moved the defendants back to the trial cage," the statement said. 

"After returning to the trial cage, Morsi fell unconscious and was immediately transferred to the hospital.

"The initial medical examination of Morsi showed that he had no pulse, no indications of breathing and his eyes were open and unresponsive to light or stimuli," the statement added.

"Morsi was dead when he arrived at the hospital at 4:15 pm with no signs of any injuries on his body," the statement said. 

Sadek has ordered a team of prosecutors from the High State Security Prosecution and the South Cairo Prosecution to examine Morsi's body and to obtain footage from surveillance cameras at the court, as well as interview those who were present at the time of the former president’s death. 

The prosecutor-general also ordered Morsi's medical file to be handed over to the prosecution and mandated a senior forensic committee headed by the head of the forensics department to prepare a report on the cause of Morsi's death.

The prosecution said it will continue to issue statements regarding any developments. 

According to informed judicial sources, Morsi was treated in accordance with the law while in detention, and was being examined by doctors on a regular basis.

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