Egyptian court issues preliminary death sentence to Morsi and MB 'Godfather' Al Qaradawi in "jailbreak case".

Egyptian court issues preliminary death sentence to Morsi in "jailbreak case". (AA).

Cairo Criminal Court on Saturday issued a preliminary ruling of death to former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and 105 other defendants in the trial known as the "Natroun Jailbreak case."

The court has sent its decision in the "Natroun case" to the country's Grand Mufti for a consultative review as required by Egyptian law, setting 2 June as a date for a final verdict.

The court also issued a preliminary ruling of death to Brotherhood leaders Mohamed El-Beltagy and Khairat El-Shater and 14 others in the trial known as "Hamas Espionage case."

The court also sent its decision in the "Hamas Espionage case" to the country's Grand Mufti for a consultative review as required by Egyptian law, setting 2 June as a date for a final verdict.

In the "Natroun Jailbreak case, the prosecution had charged Morsi and co-defendants with damaging and setting fire to prison buildings, murder, attempted murder, looting prison weapons depots and releasing prisoners.

The prisoners, who broke out of jail, include members of the Palestinian Hamas movement, Lebanon's Hizbullah, jihadists, Muslim Brotherhood members and varied criminals, according to the prosecution.

Prosecutors also said that over 800 fighters from Gaza had infiltrated Egypt, using RPGs and heavy armaments to storm three prisons, abducting four policemen and killing several others, along with inmates.

The ruling goes to the Mufti

Though the Grand Mufti's opinion is non-binding to the court, Egyptian judges have traditionally adjusted their final rulings in accordance with the Mufti's recommendations.

Saturday's capital punishment ruling against Morsi makes him the first president in Egypt's history to face the possibility of death by hanging if court ratifies its initial decision on 2 June or if he loses a projected appeal.

Other leading Brotherhood figures sentenced to death in the espionage case include Mahmoud Ezzat, who, at large, has been acting Brotherhood leader in August 2013 following the arrest of Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie.

Other Brotherhood leaders sentenced to death In the jailbreak case include Islamist preacher Youssef Al-Qaradawi, who resides in Qatar; Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, former speaker of the house Saad El-Katatni; and vice president of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party Essam El-Erian.

In the espionage case, Morsi and 35 others were charged with conspiring with foreign powers — including the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, Lebanon's Hizbullah and Iran's Revolutionary Guard — to destabilise Egypt.

The court did not on Saturday issue a ruling against Morsi and 18 others in the case and scheduled the announcement for 2 June, suggesting that the former president, unlike those sentenced to death in the case today, will not be punished by death. Hmmm.....Making a 'martyr' out of Morsi would be a mistake in my opinion, better give him life,...in solitary.