Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Boy, 2, sentenced to six months

Cathy Comerford
Monday 08 February 1999 01:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

GEORGIE PORGIE would have been well advised to get a good a lawyer after a judge in Egypt sentenced a two-year-old boy to six months for pushing over a girl.

The accused, Ayman Hossam el-Hadari, narrowly escaped the long stretch inside with hard labour when a judge quashed the sentence, police in Alexandria said last night.

Once the mini defendant was produced in court on Saturday - only after his father had been accused of harbouring a fugitive - the judge dismissed the case.

Ayman's close shave with the law came after he was found guilty of pushing his little friend to the ground during the first of what will almost certainly be many playground encounters. The girl's mother, who has not been named, filed a lawsuit claiming assault.

His fate then took a further twist as the criminal court trial judge passed sentence without actually seeing the accused or reading the prosecutor's report. The judge's decision was based on a medical report showing his victim's injuries and the mother's testimony.

Following the court hearing last October, police were dispatched to Mr el Hadari's house to accuse Ayman's father, Hossam, of harbouring a fugitive from justice.

When the two went to court at the weekend, the judge asked to see the defendant. When the father handed over the child, the judge dismissed the case.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in