The boy was two-years-old at the time of the alleged crime.

A young boy has been handed down life in prison after being found guilty on a murder charge.

According to media reports, four-year-old Ahmed Mansour Karni was convicted in absentia earlier this week on Tuesday, for the crime that was committed two years ago, which would make him two-years-old at the time of the murder.

The court in Western Cairo heard Karni's case, who was listed as "wanted" for murder, disturbance of the peace and damaging state property.

'The indictment stated the charges in full as four counts of murder, eight counts of attempted murder, vandalising property belonging to the Egyptian Health Administration in his home province of Al Fayoum, threatening soldiers and police officers and damaging vehicles belonging to security forces. Defence lawyer Faisal Sayd said he believed the judge did not read the case,' the media reported.

"The child Ahmed Mansour Karni's birth certificate was presented after state security forces added his name to the list of accused, but then the case was transferred to the military court and the child was sentenced in absentia in an ensuing court hearing."

Lawyer Mohammed Abu Hurira also expressed his outrage over the sentencing.

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