The source said Mohamed Ibrahim Abdel-Monem was convicted of killing 20 protesters on Jan. 28, one of the most violent days of the 18-day uprising that unseated Mubarak on Feb. 11. During the 18-day uprising, at least 846 protesters were killed, according government records.
The court referred the case to the Grand Mufti, Egypt’s religious authority who must approve all death sentences.
Human rights lawyer Taher Abou el-Nasr said once the policeman is apprehended, he will likely get a new trial.
The sentence against Abdel-Monem, who has evaded capture, is scheduled to be confirmed on June 26 after the Mufti’s approval.
Egypt’s news agency says a court has passed the first death sentence against a defendant charged with killing protesters during the uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak.
Senior officials, including Mubarak himself, face possible charges in the deaths of demonstrators.
