CAIRO, Sept 7 (Aswat Masriya) - An Egyptian criminal court sentenced 9 defendants to death and 14 to life imprisonment on Monday, following their conviction in the murder of a security guard last February.

The security personal was stationed to guard one of the judges in the trial of former President Mohamed Mursi. He was killed when unknown gunmen fired at him. 

The court sentenced another defendant to 10 years in prison. 

The verdict can be appealed before the Court of Cassation. 

Militant attacks targeting security personnel have risen sharply since the ouster of Mursi in July 2013.