Communicating Justice

Mariama Khai Fornah is reporting from
The Hague. Photo © BBC WST.

November 3 and 4, 2008
Due to problems faced by the Prosecution regarding the calling of their next witness, the Trial Chamber decided that proceedings would be adjourned until Wednesday November 5, 2008. 
Click here to listen to Mariama K. Fornah's report (November 3, 2008)

November 5, 2008
On Wednesday morning Prosecution Counsel Nicholas Koumjian called the 81^st Prosecution witness, TF1-579, who testified with voice and image distortion. The Insider Witness, a former fighter of Charles Taylor’s rebel organisation, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) testified that the first set of rebels that entered Sierra Leone was Liberian. TF1-579, who was trained in Gborplay, Nimba County, said he joined the rebel group because the Special Security Forces told him that the Krahn ethnic group were killing the Gio group.
Click here to listen to Mariama K. Fornah's report (November 5, 2008)

November 6, 2008
The Prosecution's 81^st witness TF1-579 continues his testimony under direct examination. Not only does the witness reveal alleged links between the accused former Liberian President and the RUF, but also that Sam Bockarie’s military venture into the Ivory Coast allegedly took place under orders of Charles Taylor.
Click here to listen to Joseph Cheeseman's report (November 6, 2008)
Please note that the distorted Liberian English of the witness was used in this report due to technical problems with the equipment used by the court interpreter.

November 7, 2008
An allegation of ethical transgression has hit Charles Taylor’s Defence team in The Hague. After a lengthy private session, Presiding Judge Teresa Doherty announced that one of Charles Taylor’s lawyers had temporarily withdrawn from the case. The withdrawal has led to the postponement of the trial until Wednesday November 12, 2008.
Click here to listen to Joseph Cheeseman's report (November 7, 2008)