CAIRO, March 3 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian criminal court sentenced on Sunday one defendant to death and four others to life imprisonment over terror charges.

This is the final verdict as the previous sentence was challenged by the defendants, official MENA news agency reported.

The defendants were convicted for establishing and operating a terrorist group that seeks to change the state rule by force as well as assault police and army personnel.

The Court of Cassation accepted a challenge by seven defendants into verdicts handed down against them by Giza Criminal Court, ordering a retrial.

Egypt has witnessed terrorist attacks since the ouster of the Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year in rule.

Hundreds of security men and civilians have been killed in those attacks that were mostly claimed by an Islamic State-branch in Sinai Peninsula.