Communicating Justice

October 20, 2008
A former Small Girl Units member of the RUF has testified in Krio about the way civilians including children were trained and used as attendants by rebels commanders. The witness also testified to the killing of an aged man who had complained that he was tired as they had been moving along with the rebels. As Mariama Khai Fornah reports, the witness explained the ordeal she went through to the judges.
Click here to listen to Mariama K. Fornah's report (October 20, 2008)

Joseph Cheeseman and Mariama K.
Fornah reporting from The Hague.
Photo © BBC WST

October 21, 2008
For almost twenty-eight minutes both the defence and the prosecution argued over a motion filed by the prosecution for the protection of a witness identified as TF1-158. The witness, according to a July 5, 2005 decision of Trial Chamber I in Freetown, was entitled to protective measures such as voice and facial distortions. The court went into recess to allow the parties to reach a solution, after which it resumed session.
Click here to listen to Mariama K. Fornah's report (October 21, 2008)

October 22 2008
Charles Taylor's defence team earlier this month accused the prosecution of the Special Court for Sierra Leone of misusing the Court's money by bringing witnesses from Africa to The Hague to testify for just ten minutes or less in the trial of Mr. Taylor. Lead Defence Counsel Courtenay Griffiths described the transportation of the crime based witnesses to The Hague as a waste of resources.

The Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court, Mr. Stephen Rapp has responded to Mr. Griffith’s criticism.
Click here to listen to Mariama K. Fornah's report (October 22, 2008)

October 23, 2008
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor is being tried for allegedly sponsoring the RUF rebels that killed, mutilated and displaced hundreds of Sierra Leoneans. Mr. Taylor is accused of sending Liberian fighters and arms to the rebels in exchange for diamonds.  But Charles Taylor’s Defence team has argued that it was in fact the Sierra Leone government that recruited the Liberians who took part in the civil war.
Click here to listen to Mariama K. Fornah's report (October 23, 2008)

October 24, 2008
The prosecution has announced that the accused former Liberian President Charles Taylor can testify in his case if he wishes to do so. However, the Prosecutor of the Special Court however said that the English Criminal Rule adopted by the Special Court would be applied if Mr. Taylor wants to testify. But what does the English Law say about a Criminal Defendant wishing to testify in his own case? Joseph Cheeseman has asked Stephen Rapp, the Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court.
Click here to listen to Joseph Cheeseman's report (October 24, 2008)