One ruling that doesn't pass the sniff test

Hisham Talaat Moustafa is a very big and very rich fish in Egypt, and he discovered that what happens in Dubai doesn't stay there. In an impressive example of police work, the Dubai police provided extensive evidence to establish the responsibility of the tycoon for the 2008 murder of his former girlfriend, the pop singer Suzanne Tamim. The actual killing was done by a retired Egyptian cop who left enough physical evidence to make for an open and shut case. Moustafa's role in hiring the killer was captured on tapped phone conversations. Both men were convicted of murder and sentenced to hang. The rich and powerful in Egypt seldom answer for their misbehavior, not to mention dance for their crimes, so the trial, which captivated Egyptians, was an unexpected vindication of justice.

Yesterday, the Court of Cassation ordered a new trial. Let's just say the odor is not pleasant, especially given what seems to have been compelling and extensive evidence presented during the trial. Watch this story.