Court suspends Giulio Regeni murder and kidnapping trial

Decision follows hours of deliberation over whether it is fair for four Egyptian security officials to be tried in absentia

A court in Rome has suspended trial proceedings against four Egyptian security officials accused of kidnapping, torturing and murdering the Italian student Giulio Regeni in Cairo, following hours of deliberation over whether it is fair for the men to be tried in absentia.

The trial was returned to a preliminary court, after judges debated for seven hours about whether hearings could continue amid any doubt they were aware of proceedings against them.