Special Court for Sierra Leone, CDF Trial, Update 11

CDF Trial

Special Court for Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone

English

The third session of the CDF trial began this week, and under the new trial timeline it is slated to continue for an unprecedented six weeks before the court breaks for a one month recess. Two more witnesses were heard, one in open session and one in closed session, bringing the total number of witnesses called in the CDF trial thus far to 20. The session began with a status conference on the morning of 1 November. The examination in chief of Witness TF2-021 took place the following day, and cross examination of this witness continued through Wednesday. The remaining two days were primarily spent in closed session while the chamber heard testimony from Witness TF2-201.

The first witness called this week testified to his conscription into the CDF forces as a child soldier who was initiated into the Kamajor fighting group. He further testified to the crimes he participated in while acting as a Kamajor, including shooting a civilian woman, killing a police officer, and acts of cannibalism by the “yamortor squad.” His testimony addressed a number of charges from the indictment, including unlawful killings, looting and burning, and the use of child soldiers.