A juvenile criminal court in Shebin El-Koum has postponed the first session of the trail of Mohamed Rageh and three others accused of murdering Mahmoud El-Banna, known in the media as the “Martyr of Chivalry,” to 27 October to verify Rage’s age.

The lawyer of the victim’s family had requested that the court verify with the Civil Status Authority that Rageh is indeed a juvenile.

The three suspects, all of whom are reportedly under the age of 18, are being tried as minors for murdering El-Banna last week in the city of Tala in Menoufiya governorate.

The suspects, who face a maximum penalty of 10 to 15 years in prison, would have faced the death penalty if tried as adults.

Last week, 18-year-old high school student El-Banna reportedly intervened to stop a group of boys – among whom was Rageh – from beating a girl in the street. Following the incident, El-Banna later posted a comment on social media saying, "It is not manly to beat a girl in the street."

Later that night, Rageh – armed with a blade – and two accomplices reportedly ambushed and attacked El-Banna in the street. According to eyewitnesses, the suspects stabbed El-Banna three times before fleeing the scene.

Following the stabbing, bystanders took the young man to hospital, where he died of his injuries.

Police in Tala announced last Thursday that Rageh and his accomplices had been arrested.