Verdict on Charles Taylor trial expected in July
Charles Taylor - Disrupts trial
Freetown, Dec 3 – The Chief Prosecutor of the UN backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, Brenda Hollist, said at an interactive session with University students in the capital, Freetown, on Friday that she hoped ”there will be a judgement in the case of former Liberian president Charles Taylor in June or July next year.” She said the court session now going on in the Hague has concluded the evidences and in January next year both prosecution and defence will present written arguments to the Trial Chamber for judgement.” The Chief Prosecutor went on to say ”For us, we shall tell the judges why we think Mr Taylor is guilty beyond reasonable doubt while the defence will argue just the opposite.”
On the legacies of the court, she said, ”the court has helped to restore justice and the rule of law, recognise fundamental human rights and the fight against impunity.” Mr Taylor is facing 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed during Sierra Leone’s civil war. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The court had been able to secure funding from the United Sates government as funding crisis had threatened the continued functioning of the court with its prescribed mandate. The defence has argued that Taylor is not guilty of the crimes he has been accused of.
The people of Sierra Leone are anxiously waiting for the court’s verdict as the country suffered immensely when rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), and other factions, terrorized villages and towns killing and maiming thousands as they prosecuted the most brutal atrocities ever endured by mankind.
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