Weekly summary of the Trial of Charles Taylor: Week of 6 – 8 September 2010

On Monday, the cross examination of DC-008 continued with the witness denying that the NPFL had a Small Boys Unit (SBU) during Liberia’s civil war. The Prosecution have alleged that a combat unit existed consisting of conscripted children, and that these children were

Weekly summary of the Trial of Charles Taylor: Week of 30 August – 3 September 2010

On Monday the court continued with the testimony of DCT-008, addressing the events leading up to the death of RUF commander Sam Bockarie in 2003 and Daniel Tamba. DCT-008 account was consistent with Mr. Taylor’s version of events. The witness told the court that what

Weekly summary of the Trial of Charles Taylor: Week of 23 – 26 August 2010

On Monday Issa Sesay was shown a letter by the Prosecution. The letter was retrieved from Mr. Taylor’s archives. Mr Taylor had produced this letter as evidence in August during his own defence and told the Special Court that “this is the letter from General Issa Sesay”. The letter addressed RUF concerns about attacks from the UN, the arrest of

Weekly summary of the Trial of Charles Taylor: Week of 16 – 19 August 2010

On Monday the prosecution continued to cross examine Issay Sesay seeking to establish links between the RUF and Mr. Taylor. The Prosecution investigated a variety of issues, including training at Camp Naama, and Mr. Sankoh’s access to a satellite phone in 1991, whilst seeking to establish links between the RUF and Charles Taylor. Mr Koumjian continued the cross examination by

Weekly summary of the Trial of Charles Taylor: Week of 9 – 12 August 2010

On Monday the prosecution called Ms Farrow and Ms White to testify on allegations that Mr Taylor gave the supermodel Naomi Campbell blood diamonds during a dinner hosted by Nelson Mandela in South Africa in 1997.
Last week Ms Campbell told the court about how she was woken up by two unknown men and given a gift of “dirty-looking stones”. According to Ms Campbell, she was

Supermodel Naomi Campbell in the box

On Thursday the supermodel Naomi Campbell testified before the special court of Sierra Leone after prosecution succeed in re-opening their case. The prosecution convinced the judges of the Special Court that the Ms Campbell evidence, along with Carol White (Ms Campbell’s former agent) and actress Mia Farrow “was unknown to the prosecution when it formally closed its case on 27 February 2009″ and relates to “a ‘central issue’ to the prosecution’s case: the accused’s possession of rough diamonds.”

Weekly Summary of Taylor Trial, Monday 26 – Thursday29 July 2010

Issay Sesay returned to the witness box on Monday and told the Special Court of Sierra Leone that he was not appointed head of the RUF by Mr. Taylor alone but instead he was appointed after a series of discussions held by West African Leaders that merely included Mr. Taylor. Mr Sesay denied the prosecution claims that Mr. Taylor appointed him leader of the RUF in May 2000. Lead defense counsel Mr. Courtenay Griffiths asked the witness, “were you appointed leader of the RUF by Charles Taylor alone?” Mr Sesay replied

Weekly Summary of the Taylor Trial, Week of 12 – 15 July 2010

Issa Sesay took the stand for a second week and continued to distance the RUF from Mr. Taylor’s control and influence. Mr Sesay testified on Monday that the government of Ivory Coast provided the RUF with support between 1996 and 2000, and that Mr. Sankoh was still seen as the leader of the RUF following his arrest for treason.
The witness told the court that “ the Ivorian government was responsible for hotel bills, medication, feeding, transportation” for the RUF delegations, whilst

WEEKLY SUMMARY OF THE TAYLOR TRIAL: WEEK OF 5 – 9 JULY 2010

Issa Sesay continued his testimony this week and repeatedly distanced the RUF from Charles Taylor’s control and support. On Tuesday he told the court that the RUF had not be ordered by Mr. Taylor to amputate civilians, release hostages, and that its leader, Foday Sankoh, had no desire or means to contact Mr. Taylor. The witness was asked to comment on the Prosecution’s suggestions that Mr Taylor had ordered

Daily Summary of the Taylor Trial Monday 5 July 2010

After the previous week’s recess, the Defense called Issay Sesay on Monday to testify on behalf of Charles Taylor. Issay Sesay was an interim leader of the RUF in the late 1990s and is currently serving a 52 year jail sentence following his conviction for war crimes and crimes against humanity in relation to his role in the Sierra Leone conflict.