The judge in the trial of Egypt's deposed Islamist president and 14 others charged with inciting murder adjourned the case until Jan. 8 soon after it started today to allow the defence time to review evidence.
The move followed a delay in proceedings due to chants from the defendants and then a defiant statement from Morsi, who refused to recognize the court's authority.
This image made from video broadcast on Egyptian state TV shows ousted President Mohammed Morsi speaking from inside a mesh cage as he stands with other defendants during a court hearing at a police academy compound in Cairo, Egypt, on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013. (Egyptian State Television/Associated Press)
His comments came in response to the judge calling his name out after identifying him as a "defendant."
Morsi replied: "I am Dr. Mohammed Morsi, the president of the republic. I am Egypt's legitimate president."
He added: "I refuse to be tried by this court."
He added: "I refuse to be tried by this court."
It was the first time Morsi, who has been held at an undisclosed location since July, was given an opportunity to officially defend himself.
"This was his first chance to get in front of a judge and actually plead his innocence, which is exactly what he did," CBC's Derek Stoffel reported from Egypt.
Egypt's state TV reported the judge suspended the hearing for about an hour after it started two hours later than scheduled, because of the defendants' unruly behaviour inside a courtroom cage, Stoffel said.
