Egyptian actor Saeed Mokhtar was killed in a violent altercation following a child custody session at a club in Cairo's October district. The incident occurred on December 5, 2025, and the accused, who was with Mokhtar's ex-wife, claimed that Mokhtar attacked him with a knife. The altercation resulted in Mokhtar's death and the accused sustaining injuries.
According to the accused, he was waiting in his car with Mokhtar's ex-wife after a child custody session when Mokhtar confronted them, leading to a heated argument. The accused claimed that Mokhtar was armed with a knife and attacked him, prompting a struggle that resulted in Mokhtar's fatal injury. However, Mokhtar's ex-wife provided a different account, stating that the argument escalated into a physical altercation as her ex-husband tried to prevent the accused from continuing to assault her.
The prosecution charged the accused with premeditated murder, but the accused denied any intention to harm Mokhtar. The case was brought before the Cairo Criminal Court, which initially heard the case on September 21, 2026. During the trial, the defense requested a postponement to allow for additional evidence to be presented, including testimony from the forensic doctor who performed the autopsy.
The court granted the postponement, adjourning the trial to September 24, 2026. The defense also submitted a civil claim for 100,001 Egyptian pounds and requested that the court call additional witnesses, including the forensic doctor. The defense argued that the evidence presented so far supported a charge of premeditated murder.
The incident drew significant attention due to Mokhtar's prominence as an actor in Egypt. His ex-wife was questioned by authorities and released due to lack of evidence implicating her in the crime. The accused was taken into custody pending further investigation.
The altercation occurred in a public place, with multiple witnesses present. The investigation revealed that Mokhtar sustained a fatal injury from a knife wound. The accused claimed that the injury was accidental, occurring during the struggle.
The case has sparked debate over issues of child custody and the escalation of disputes into violence. The prosecution's charge of premeditated murder may be revised based on additional evidence presented during the trial. The trial's postponement allows for further investigation and presentation of evidence.
Key points
- The accused claimed self-defense, stating that Mokhtar attacked him with a knife.
- The case was postponed to September 24, 2026, to allow for additional evidence to be presented.
- The defense requested a civil claim of 100,001 Egyptian pounds and additional witnesses to be called.
