Egypt's Mubarak gets life in prison

3pm: Tearful Mubarak refuses to enter prison

Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak refused to leave the helicopter that took him to Tora prison in Cairo after he was sentenced to life in prison.

"He was crying and would not get out of the helicopter. Security officials spent some time convincing him to get out," a security official said. "He's now convinced and will be entering the prison shortly."

Judge Ahmed Refaat earlier sentenced Mubarak to life in prison after convicting him of involvement in the murder of protesters during the uprising that ousted him last year.

Verdict handed out

12:21pm: Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak on Saturday was sentenced to serve life in prison for his role in the killing of protesters.

The presiding judge Ahmad Refaat said that Mubarak was found guilty of involvement in the killing of peaceful protesters more than a year ago. The court gave the same setence to Mubarak's interior minister Habib Al Adly for the same charges.

Six former police commanders were acquitted, while corruption charges against Mubarak's sons, Alaa and Jamal, were dropped.

Chief prosecutor Abdul Majuid Mahmoud ordered the transfer of  Mubarak to prison after a court sentenced him to life. Mubarak, 84, has been staying at an army hospital since his trial started in August.

As the three-judge panel left, the courtroom degenerated into chaos, with some people among the audience slamming the rulings as invalid.

It was not immediately clear if the protesters were Mubarak's supporters or opponents.

Security guards inside the packed courtroom immediately brought the situation under control. 

Mubarak and other defendants were quickly taken outside an iron cage built inside the makeshift courtroom.

11:45am: Mubarak flown to verdict venue

Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak arrived aboard a military helicopter at the Police Academy on Saturday for a verdict on charges of corruption and complicity in killing protesters.

He was carried into an ambulance from the helicopter to the courtroom in Cairo where he appeared, lying on a hospital bed.

11:30am: Mubarak loyalists rally to verdict venue

Scores of pro-Mubarak Egyptians gathered outside the Police Academy in Cairo on Saturday, calling for the court to acquit him of charges levelled against him.

Holding portraits of the former president, the supporters chanted: "With soul and blood, we sacrifice ourselves for you, Mubarak."

Large numbers of security forces, deployed outside the court building, have separated Mubarak's  backers from his opponents to head off potential clashes.

10:40am: Defendants arrive for verdict

The two sons of Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak, the former interior minister Habib Al Adly and six former security aides arrived on Saturday morning at a court building on the outskirts of Cairo for a verdict in the trial over the killing of protesters in last year's uprising.

Thousands of army and security forces have been deployed around the place, which was the venue of the historic trial since it started on August 3 through February 22.

Mubarak faces verdict

Mubarak, who governed Egypt for 30 years before a popular uprising toppled him last year, hears a judge rule on Saturday on whether he is guilty of graft and complicity in the killing of protesters.
 
It is the first time an Arab leader ousted by his people has been placed before a regular court. Mubarak’s trial had Arabs glued to the television last year and sent a message to other autocrats battling rebellions what fate might await them. 

With input from agencies