Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (July 13 - 17, 2009)

By Joseph Cheeseman and Adolphus Williams reporting from The Hague

Jul 2009
17

July 13, 2009
The Defence has opened in the landmark war crimes trial of the former Liberian leader,
Charles Taylor, in the Hague. The defendant’s lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths, described the prosecution as “ill-conceived and revenge-seeking” and said the aim had been to humiliate and humble his client. He said Mr Taylor, who will take the stand tomorrow (Tuesday 14th July, 2009) would prove to the world that his involvement in the Sierra Leone conflict was legitimate and not criminal as suggested by the Prosecution. Joseph Cheeseman reports from The Hague. 

Click here to listen to Joseph Cheeseman’s report (July 13, 2009)

July 14, 2009
The former Liberian president Charles Taylor has begun giving evidence at his war crimes trial in The Hague. He denied prosecution claims that he was everything from a rapist to a terrorist and accused witnesses of telling lies about him. He said he had no part in supporting the invasion of Sierra Leone by RUF rebels nor did he ever receive so-called “blood diamonds” from them. Adolphus Williams reports from The Hague.

Click here to listen to Adolphus Williams' report (July 14, 2009)

July 15, 2009
On his second day of evidence at his war crimes trial in The Hague, the former Liberian president, Charles Taylor, has given his first account of the circumstances surrounding his escape from a jail in the united states in the 1980s. He also told the court that the Liberian president Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf was one of the founding members of the rebel group, NPFL, which eventually overthrew the regime of Samuel Doe. From the Hague, Adolphus Williams reports.

Click here to listen to Adolphus Williams’ report (July 15, 2009)

July 16, 2009
The recruitment of child soldiers is one of the counts for which the Former Liberian President, Charles Taylor is being tried in The Hague. On the third day of his testimonies, Charles Taylor denied using child soldiers in combat. He admitted that human skulls were used at NPFL check-points. Mr. Taylor also revisited the infiltration of the NPFL Forces into the intelligence network of Samuel Doe’s government. From The Hague, Adolphus Williams reports.

Click here to listen to Adolphus Williams’ report (July 16, 2009)

July 17, 2009

The court does not sit on Fridays.