A Sierra Leonean witness, who yesterday commenced his testimony in defense of Charles Taylor, has today told the Special Court for Sierra Leone judges that Sierra Leonean rebels received supplies of arms and ammunition not from Mr. Taylor as alleged by prosecutors, but from another rebel group in Liberia.
Prosecutors have alleged that Mr. Taylor, while leader of the [...]
March
23
2010
ULIMO Rebels Supplied Arms and Ammunition To The RUF, Sierra Leonean Defense Witness Says
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Today, a Sierra Leonean witness commenced his testimony in defense of Charles Taylor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone. The witness told the judges that the former Liberian president provided support to Sierra Leonean rebel forces but that such support ceased in 1991 when Mr. Taylor withdrew his Liberian fighters from Sierra Leone.
Charles Ngebeh, a Sierra Leonean [...]
This week, a witness for former Liberian president, Charles Taylor denied that Mr. Taylor supplied weapons to Sierra Leonean rebels, backing up information contained in a 1999 military report issued by the rebels. The same witness also rejected the idea that the rebels themselves raped, took “bush wives” or recruited child soldiers during the country’s [...]
March
20
2010
Charles Taylor’s Defense Counsel, Courtenay Griffiths, Answers Your Questions – Part III
Dear Readers – here is the third and final instalment of answers to your questions by Courtenay Griffiths, Charles Taylor’s lead defense counsel. We look forward to seeing your comments and responses.
QUESTION 15: Who is paying for Mr. Taylor’s defense? And what does it mean for him to be partially indigent – how does that [...]
Charles Taylor’s defense witness today denied that he was taking bribes in exchange for evidence.
The protected Gambian witness, whose evidence was suspended on March 10, 2010 to give prosecutors more time to prepare for his cross-examination, took the stand again today. Prosecution counsel, Nicholas Koumjian, raised concerns about the amount of money the witness was receiving, and [...]
March
19
2010
Charles Taylor’s Defense Counsel, Courtenay Griffiths, Answers Your Questions – Part II
Dear Readers — here is the second installment of answers to your questions from Courtenay Griffiths, Mr. Taylor’s lead defense counsel. The final installment will be posted tomorrow.
QUESTION 8. What is your sense of how Mr. Taylor performed on the stand? Are you proud of your case and would you have changed anything? What types [...]
March
18
2010
RUF Rebels Did Not Commit Crimes Of Rape, Did Not Recruit Child Soldiers, Witness Says
Sierra Leonean rebel forces did not commit crimes of rape, nor did they recruit and use children for combat purposes as alleged by prosecutors, Charles Taylor’s defense witness told Special Court for Sierra Leone judges today under cross-examination in The Hague.
A Liberian national who was a member of Sierra Leone’s Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebel group today disputed [...]
Dear Readers,
Here is the first installment of the interview we did with Charles Taylor’s lead defense counsel, Courtenay Griffiths, last week. The next two installments will be posted over the coming days. Enjoy!
QUESTION 1. Why did you take on this case? And are you winning or losing?
Based on the following comments:
On March 5, 2010 at [...]
A Liberian witness who has been testifying in defense of former Liberian president Charles Taylor today concluded his direct-examination in closed session. Though the witness has been testifying in open session with partial protective measures, today’s direct-examination was conducted in closed session because certain aspects of the witness’s testimony were too sensitive to be heard [...]
March
16
2010
Sierra Leonean Rebels Captured Arms and Ammunition From Enemy Forces And Purchased Some From Guinean Soldiers, Witness Says
Sierra Leonean rebel forces captured arms and ammunition from enemy forces and also purchased some from Guinean soldiers, a defense witness for Charles Taylor told Special Court for Sierra Leone judges today in The Hague. The witness also denied prosecution allegations that Mr. Taylor supplied Sierra Leonean rebels with weapons during the country’s brutal 11-year conflict.
A [...]
