Cairo: A criminal court on the outskirts of Cairo will on Monday start the retrial of an Egyptian business tycoon and an ex-policeman condemned to death over killing a Lebanese pop diva in Dubai in 2008.
In March the Court of Cassation, Egypt's highest judicial authority, revoked death rulings earlier passed by a criminal court against Hesham Talaat Mustafa, one of Egypt's leading real estate developers, and Mohsin Al Sukkari, an ex-police officer, convicted of slaying the Lebanese singer Suzan Tamim in her luxury apartment.
In overturning the death sentence, the court cited faulty and conflicting evidence.
Baha Abu Shuqa, a leading defence lawyer for Mustafa, said he was optimistic about the retrial at the New Cairo Criminal Court. "The new court is known for its high efficiency in handling session hearings, listening to defence teams' demands and examining criminal evidence," he said.
Mustafa is a member of President Hosni Mubarak's party and a former member of parliament.
