Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (August 3 - 7, 2009)
By Joseph Cheeseman and Adolphus Williams reporting from The Hague
August 3, 2009
The morning session of Charles Taylor’s trial in The Hague was devoted to a Monrovia fracas which killed four members of the Liberian Roosevelt Johnson faction (ULIMO-J) and wounded two U.S Embassy personnel. Mr. Taylor told the court that the incident led to what he described as, “gun boat diplomacy between Liberia and the U.S”. An enquiry was made as to whether Former RUF Rebel Leader Sam Bockarie received gifts from Mr. Taylor on his first visit to Liberia. Adolphus Williams has more.
Click here to listen to Adolphus Williams’ report (August 3, 2009)
August 4, 2009
A sudden adjournment has hit the war crimes trial of Former Liberian President Charles Taylor in The Hague. The three regular Judges and the Alternate Judge as well as the Prosecution Lawyers were present in court, but Lead Defence Lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths who is conducting the examination in-Chief of Mr. Taylor was absent. Joseph Cheeseman reports from The Hague.
Click here to listen to Joseph Cheeseman’s report (August 4, 2009)
August 5, 2009
A day after Lead Defence Lawyer Courtenay Griffiths recovered from his illness, Former Liberian President Charles Taylor has confirmed that the Sierra Leonean Rebels (RUF) had headquarters in Monrovia. Despite allegation of human rights abuse against him, Mr. Taylor said he established a National Commission Rights Commission to protect the Liberian people. Adolphus Williams reports.
Click here to listen to Adolphus Williams’ report (August 5, 2009)
August 6, 2009
On Tuesday, Charles Taylor’s Lead Lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths was suddenly hit by an illness which kept him away from court for a day. Defence Lawyer, Morris Anyah termed Mr. Griffith’s illness as ‘’food poisoning.’’ So, is somebody trying to kill Mr. Griffiths? The Accused Former Liberian President said that in 1998 the West African Peace Keeping Force ECOMOG recruited a huge number of Liberian combatants that fought in Sierra Leone. Joseph Cheeseman reports from The Hague.
Click here to listen to Joseph Cheeseman’s report (August 6, 2009)
August 7, 2009
The court does not sit on Fridays.