The trial of Hosni Mubarak came to a halt on Saturday as lawyers demanded a new panel of judges after highly anticipated testimony from Egypt's military ruler, a former confidant of the ousted president.
Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi gave his testimony under a total media blackout, with journalists barred from the court and forbidden to report any leaked details of what he told the court.
Many believe Tantawi, who was Mubarak's defence minister for two decades, can be crucial in addressing the key question of whether Mubarak ordered lethal force used against protesters during the 18-day uprising against his rule.
Mubarak is charged with complicity in the deaths of nearly 840 protesters in the crackdown against the uprising, which ended with his ouster on February 11 and the handover of power to a military council headed by Tantawi.
Mubarak could face the death penalty if convicted, but so far most testimony, including from police officers, has distanced Mubarak from any orders to shoot at protesters. After Tantawi's nearly hour-long testimony, lawyers representing the families of slain protesters demanded a new panel of judges, several lawyers who were present said.
The demand appeared to be in connection with Tantawi's statements, which were covered by the publication ban. The lawyers spoke on condition of anonymity because of the closed-door session.
Their motion potentially upends the trial, which began on August 3 with many in the country riveted to the sight of their ailing former leader, who ruled for nearly 30 years, lying in a hospital gurney inside the courtroom cage where defendants traditionally sit during trials in Egypt. Since then, the trial has become complicated, with the judge halting live broadcasts of the sessions and a series of police officer witnesses whose testimonies largely came in favour of Mubarak.
The trial must now stop until a higher court rules on the lawyers' demand. A decision on the request is expected on Monday. If the higher court accepts the motion, the trial will have to restart from the beginning with new judges.
If the higher court rules against the lawyers' motion, the current trial will resume on October 30 with testimony by chief of staff Lt Gen Sami Hafez Anan, the second-highest ranking official in the ruling military council, who was initially set to testify tomorrow.