Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (September 7 - 11, 2009)
By Joseph Cheeseman and Adolphus Williams reporting from The Hague
September 7, 2009
To avoid being replaced, Charles Taylor’s sick Lead Defence Lawyer returned to court on Monday morning. In its indictment, the Prosecution accused Mr. Taylor and the RUF of committing Acts of Terrorism in Sierra Leone. Mr. Taylor said that Libyan Leader Muammar Kaddafi is not a terrorist, despite his having supported both the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, and the Revolutionary United Front. Mr. Taylor told the court that previous Presidents of Liberia took several decisions that hurt Liberia. Adolphus Williams has this report from The Hague.
Click here to listen to Adolphus Williams' report (September 7, 2009)
September 8, 2009
Charles Taylor and his lawyer gave an account of a 1998 RUF war tactic called “Operation No Living Thing” which led to the death of hundreds of Sierra Leoneans. Mr. Taylor also testified about the second assassination attempt on his life at the Executive Mansion in 1996, which he said would have thrown Liberia into a catastrophic situation. Adolphus Williams reports from The Hague.
Click here to listen to Adolphus Williams' report (September 8, 2009)
September 9, 2009
The Former Liberian President’s Defence Team attacked the credibility of a Key Prosecution Witness; who alleged that Mr. Taylor, together with the Gambian Rebel Leader, and the leader of the Sierra Leone Rebel Group, had a common plan in Burkina Faso. The witness also claimed that he trained children under 15 years for Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia, the NPFL. Adolphus Williams reports.
Click here to listen to Adolphus Williams' report (September 9, 2009)
September 10, 2009
The Defence Team of Charles Taylor on Thursday continued its attack on the credibility of the testimonies of Prosecution Witnesses. One of the pieces of Prosecution evidence attacked by the Defence blamed Sam Bockarie’s death on Charles Taylor. Prosecution evidence alleges that the RUF and Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) were inseparable. Mr. Taylor described prosecution allegations as nonsensical. Adolphus Williams reports.
Click here to listen to Adolphus Williams' report (September 10, 2009)
September 11, 2009
The court does not sit on Fridays.