Hosni Mubarak retrial begins in Cairo

Hosni Mubarak's retrial over his role in January 2011's protester deaths began in Cairo on Saturday. 

Egypt's former president was sentenced to life in prison last June for his complicity in around 900 deaths during the Arab Spring that overthrew him, as well as for financial corruption. 

However, both the prosecution and the defense appealed the first trial, and more evidence from President Mohammed Morsi's 2012 fact-finding report is expected to be presented. 

Though the report was not made public, leaks revealed that the country's powerful military was responsible for torture, killings, and kidnappings during the Arab Spring, which it has consistently denied, the Guardian reported last month. 

Mubarak's two sons Alaa and Gamal, his interior minister Habib el-Adli, and six of his security aides are also facing corruption charges. 

The 85-year-old former leader had been ill for some time, but despite rumors that he was "at death's door," he arrived at the trial in aviators and all white, sitting upright on a stretcher, waving defiantly — a move that angered many Egyptians.

As the first leader toppled in the Middle East's revolution to stand before a court, Mubarak's initial trial was historic. However, though emotions were running high in the courtroom this morning, there has been much less public interest in the retrial than the original proceedings. 

Egyptians are frustrated with the chaos surrounding the retrial, including Judge Mustafa Hassan Abdullah's decision to refer it to another court in April. 

The next hearing has been set for June 8. 

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