Egypt tycoon to be hanged for Lebanese diva murder

The judge ordered Hisham Talaat Mustafa and retired policeman Mohsen al-Sukkari hanged for respectively ordering and carrying out the brutal slaying of the singer in a luxury Dubai apartment in July.

Mustafa, a stalwart of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party, was found guilty of paying Sukkari two million dollars to cut the throat of Tamim, 30, at the Dubai flat she bought months before the murder.

Chaos erupted in the packed courtroom after the judge read the verdict and ordered the men's sentences referred to the mufti for confirmation.

Mustafa's wife fainted while Sukkari's face went pale and family members burst into tears as the sentence was read out.

The case with its mix of wealth, show business and politics has gripped Egypt, where powerful businessmen are rarely seen to face justice.

Scuffles erupted inside and outside the tense courtroom as the guilty men, were taken away.

Samir al-Shishtawi, one of Mustafa's lawyers told reporters that the defense would appeal the verdict, which he described as "severe."

"I want to assure Talaat Mustafa's family that this verdict will be overturned by the appeals court," he said.

Mustafa ordered the killing after Tamim, who had previously married two men in the music business, tied the knot with Iraqi kick-boxing champion Riyad al-Azzawi whom she met at London's renowned Harrods department store.

Sukkari followed her to Dubai to stake out Tamim's flat. He then bought a knife, went to the apartment saying he worked for the building owner and killed her when she opened the door.

Domestic disputes

Mustafa, 49, was arrested in September and had his immunity lifted as member of the Shura Council, Egypt's upper house of parliament. Media reports have said he offered Tamim 50 million dollars to marry him.

He ran the Talaat Mustafa Group real estate conglomerate that is worth several billion dollars, and is said to have been close to President Hosni Mubarak's son and heir apparent, Gamal.

Shares in the group, TMG Holdings, dropped 18 percent on the Egyptian Stock Exchange at opening following the sentencing.

Talaat Mustafa Group appointed Tarek Talaat Mustafa, Hisham's brother, chairman of the board and chief executive officer following his arrest.

Tamim's life had been marred by domestic disputes, including a rocky marriage with her second husband and agent, who had accused her in 2004 of being behind an attempt on his life.

Egyptian media said Tamim had a three-year relationship with Mustafa that ended several months before her death.

Sukkari, who headed security at one of Mustafa's hotels, was arrested after Dubai police found his footprint at the crime scene, found the shop where he bought his shoes and tracked him through his credit card.