Morsi back in court to face murder charges

In second appearance in week, deposed Egyptian leader faces charges of inciting the murder of protesters while president

Mohamed Morsi photographed through bars at his appearance last week [AP]

Deposed Egyptian leader Mohamed Morsi has returned to court on charges of murder, days after he insisted he was the legitimate president at a separate hearing related to a prison break.

According to the official state news agency, Morsi arrived at the police academy in Cairo on Saturday to face charges of inciting his supporters to kill 10 protesters demonstrating near the presidential palace in December 2012.

He was accompanied by 14 defendants from the now banned Muslim Brotherhood. Most of the charges they face carry the death penalty.

Despite a heavy security presence outside court, a lawyer representing Morsi was mobbed by anti-Morsi protesters as he arrived.

Selim al-Awa berated security at the police academy where his car was impeded by a crowd of angry protesters blocking the entrance to the court, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Last week, Morsi appeared at the same location charged with colluding with foreign groups to break out of prison during the uprising against Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

At that appearance, Morsi insisted he was the legitimate president of the country.

Morsi was deposed by the army in 2013 after a year in power. The head of the army, Field Marshall Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, was cleared by the military last week to run for the presidency later this year.

Source: News Agencies