Court Issues Preliminary Death Sentence against Murderer of Naira Ashraf

On Tuesday, Mansoura Criminal Court issued a preliminary verdict sentencing Mohamed Adel to death on charges of the premeditated murder of student Nayera Ashraf in Mansoura last week.

It referred the death sentence of the defendant to the Grand Mufti Shawky Allam for approval.

The court set the session for July 6 to read the final verdict.

A referral to the mufti is required in the Egyptian court system ahead of death sentences, even though the mufti’s opinion is advisory, not binding.

On Sunday, the court adjourned the case to today’s session to hear the pleading of the Public Prosecution and the defense of the civil plaintiffs and the defendant.

The defendant admitted to committing the crime during Sunday’s session, claiming he was force harassed many times by tg the victim who apparently threatened him and sent thugs after him.

He claimed he brought a knife with him on the day of the crime to defend himself, and attacked the victim after she insulted him in public

The Public Prosecutor referred the defendant Mohamed Adel on Wednesday to trial before to the Criminal Court over charges of premeditated murder of Ashraf.

The referral decision came 48 hours after the accident.

This was in coordination  with the competent court of appeals and the first court sessions were set.

The Public Prosecution had established evidence before the accused from the testimony of 25 witnesses, including students, university security personnel, and shop workers in the vicinity of the incident.

The victim’s family and friends also testified that the defendant used to harass and threaten the victim with harm because she refused to marry him after he proposed to her, and he tried more than once to force her to do so, which led them to report him to the police.