Hearing for Al Jazeera journalists jailed in Egypt adjourned again

Despite high hopes that they would be released on bail today, three Al Jazeera English journalists have been ordered to return to an Egyptian prison after a judge adjourned their trial for a fourth time.

Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed have been detained in Egypt since being taken from their Cairo hotel room in December.

They stand accused of defaming Egypt for their coverage of ongoing conflict there, and for affiliating with the Muslim Brotherhood, which has now been branded a terrorist group. The trio have denied all allegations against them.

Several other reporters in Egypt have fallen out with authorities after the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi last summer. The new government is now run by the military.

The defendants have previously appeared in court in locked cages, but this hearing was different in that a judge summoned them to the front of the room to speak to him directly. More than a dozen others also on trial also pleaded their cases.

Cont: The idea that I could have an association with the Muslim Brotherhood is quite frankly preposterous. #FreeAJStaff

— Alex Hart (@alexhart7) March 31, 2014

Addressing judge, @petergreste says "we pose no risk to state of Egypt or to individuals". #AJE pic.twitter.com/bZN56YYb9T

— Hayden Cooper (@haydencooper) March 31, 2014

"I drink alcohol, do you know any Brotherhood supporters who drink alcohol?" says @repent11 #AJE

— Hayden Cooper (@haydencooper) March 31, 2014

The move to have the defendants speak for themselves confused some reporters covering the trial, and raised hopes among the Al Jazeera journalists’ and their colleagues.

We are sitting on the edge of our seats trying to understand what it means that judge want to hear from defendants directly, a first. #Egypt

— Nancy Youssef, نانسي يوسف (@nancyayoussef) March 31, 2014

Our boys have been allowed out of their courtroom cage for the first time. Hope it's a good omen #FreeAJStaff

— Kamahl Santamaria (@KamahlOnTV) March 31, 2014

Each defendant pleading his own case in #AJTrial. Was NOT expecting this. Egypt's legal system as much as mystery as pyramids. #FreeAJStaff

— Alex Hart (@alexhart7) March 31, 2014

After the defendants spoke, they were led back to their cages as the judge called a brief recess to decide whether to release the journalists on bail. Mohamed Fahmy, whose lawyer requested bail so he can treat his arm injury, was quoted as yelling to the courtroom:

https://twitter.com/PatrickKingsley/status/450593320843345920

https://twitter.com/PatrickKingsley/status/450595367814705152

However, because video evidence that was presumed to be key to the prosecutor’s arguments was not shown, the trial was adjourned.