( CNN ) -- The judge in the retrial of deposed Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak recused himself Saturday , referred the trial to a lower court and then walked out of the courtroom . Other judicial officials left the bench with him . Egyptian state TV carried the announcement live . A crowd of people attending the trial erupted in angry shouts , and police stepped in between them and the judge 's bench . Mubarak , who had arrived on a stretcher at the country 's Police Academy in Cairo for the first day of his retrial , was loaded back onto a helicopter , which flew him back to a military hospital . Judge Mustafa Hassan Abdullah quit the case over a medical condition , Mubarak 's lawyer Farid El Deeb told CNN . Abdullah `` submitted a medical report to the head of Cairo Cassation Court stating that he has medical problems with his eyes , '' El Deeb said . Egyptian law requires a judge to recuse himself publicly . A lawyer for the families of those killed said he believed the judge held a legal bias in the case but also corroborated the medical reason for the judge 's move . `` There was also news that he had medical issues related to his eyes , '' Khaled Abu Bakr said . Bakr and El Deeb told CNN that the court of appeals has 60 days to appoint a replacement judge . Mubarak will remain in custody at a hospital , El Deeb said . Mubarak faces charges related to the killing of peaceful protesters during the Arab Spring uprising that led to his ouster in February 2011 . Protesters . Dozens of relatives of those killed in Egypt 's demonstrations gathered outside the court , state-run Nile TV reported . They were joined by hundreds of pro-Mubarak activists carrying signs of support . Galal Faisal Ali , whose brother Naser was killed in the uprising , said he fears Mubarak will be found innocent . `` The government is not giving us the moral support we need and they 're allowing this circus of a trial to continue . We were hoping for a death sentence but the way it 's going , we may see Mubarak free , and his sons free , which means my brother died for nothing , '' he said . Magdi Fouda , the main organizer of the pro-Mubarak protest , is a member of a group called `` We are sorry , Mr . President . '' She was joined by a second group called `` Sons of Mubarak . '' `` We are sure Mubarak will be pronounced innocent , '' she said . State security forces formed a barrier between the opposing protesters . Emotions ran high at Mubarak 's original trial in 2012 , resulting in scuffles between the two sides inside the courtroom and rioting outside . The accusations . Mubarak 's two sons , six of his security aides and his former interior minister Habib al-Adly all face trial with him . The other defendants had also appeared at the criminal court located inside the academy , state TV reported . In addition to the alleged killings , all face charges of financial corruption and abuse of power . Mubarak and al-Adly were both found guilty in the original trial and sentenced to life in prison , but they entered an appeal , which the court accepted . It resulted in the retrial . Prosecutors have added an additional corruption charge that was not part of the original trial . Mubarak is accused of selling natural gas to neighboring Israel for prices below fair market value . A judge ordered Mubarak held in custody for an additional 15 days . Morsy pleased about second trial . Essam El-Erian , a senior adviser to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy , said in January that the government looked forward to a second trial . `` God willed the retrial would take place under Morsy 's rule , with new evidence and new defendants , '' El-Erian said . Mubarak , who ruled Egypt for 30 years with the help of the military , was found guilty in June 2012 of ordering the killing of protesters and was immediately transferred to Tora prison in Cairo to serve his life sentence . The 84-year-old has suffered a range of physical problems since he was driven from office in February 2011 , following weeks of protests by Egyptians demanding more freedom and reforms . In December , Mubarak was transferred to a military hospital after suffering a head injury and a bruised chest when he slipped in a prison hospital bathroom , Egyptian state-run media reported . Journalist Mohamed Fadel Fahmy contributed to this report .
NEW : Court has 60 minutes to pick a replacement for judge who stepped down . The judge recuses himself due to a medical issue with his eyes . Anti - Mubarak protesters hold signs outside the court . Mubarak faces charges related to the killing of peaceful protesters leading up to his ouster in 2011 .