CAIRO: The South Cairo Court rejected on Tuesday an appeal for the release from custody of Saudi Arabian princess Sara Fahd El Khatifi, reported Al Masry Al Youm newspaper. Investigations revealed that El Khatifi is accused of manslaughter after crashing into a taxi and killing the driver, Hassan Said Ahmed, 42, and a yet unidentified young Azerbaijani male. The defense alleges that the defendant was driving at manic speed and that blood tests following the accident on Friday contained a 13 percent blood alcohol level. The accused arrived in court on Tuesday with eight lawyers and tight security for the hearing of the appeal. Since the appeal was rejected, she will now be kept in custody a further week for more questioning. Ahmed s family refused to negotiate with El Khatifi's family and have requested that the Foreign Minister make sure she is kept inside Egypt until the court reaches a verdict and the case is closed. This princess must be held accountable for what she s done. Why should my children pay the price of something a reckless girl did? the victim's wife Manal El Said told Al Masry Al Youm. The grieving family s lawyer, Fouad Khaled, told the press that he will seek financial compensation for his client. He promised not to abandon the case until a fair verdict is reached. He complained that El Khatifi was not being properly incarcerated, but was given permission to leave the cell and sleep in the interrogation room. Ahmed was father to three children, daughters Dina, 7, Ghada, barely 2, and a 14-year-old son Karim, who is disabled.
