Trial of defiant Islamist president and 14 others had been interrupted by the defendants chanting 'down with military coup'

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

Egypt's deposed president has defiantly told a court in Cairo that he is the country's legitimate leader and it has no jurisdiction to try him.

Monday's trial was Mohammed Morsi's first public appearance since the military coup that ousted him on 3 July. Morsi and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood members are charged with inciting the killing of protesters outside the presidential palace in 2012.

The leader of the Muslim Brotherhood rejected the proceedings and said he had been forced to attend. "This is a military coup whose leaders must be put on trial in accordance with the constitution," Morsi told the court.

"I am the president of the republic and I am here against my will ... What is happening here is providing cover for the military coup," he said, as his co-defendants chanted "down, down with military coup".

The judge halted proceedings soon after they started because of the defendants' chants, Egyptian state television reported. The trial resumed but was later adjourned until 8 January to allow defence lawyers to review documents.

Looking healthy, Morsi appeared in court wearing a dark blue suit but no tie. He had refused to wear a prison uniform as the judge had ordered, according to security officials.

Security officials inside the courtroom said the earlier adjournment was caused by Morsi's insistence that he would not change into the prison uniform customarily worn by defendants, part of his refusal to recognise the trial's legitimacy.

Since he was overthrown, Morsi has been held at a secret military location. He was flown by helicopter to the trial venue – a police academy in an eastern Cairo district.

Morsi and the others are charged with inciting murder and could face the death penalty if convicted.