Special Court for Sierra Leone, CDF Trial, Update 68

CDF Trial

Special Court for Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone

English

The CDF trial continued with the Prosecution’s cross-examination of the first accused, Chief Sam Hinga Norman. It focused on Norman’s own alleged command and control of the CDF as well as the roles of his co-accused, Fofana and Kondewa, in the conflict. Peter Penfold, the former British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, also took the stand this week as the second witness to be called in the CDF defence case. His testimony ended in controversy as he described the Indictment as a grave injustice. The Prosecution’s cross-examination focused on Penfold’s personal friendship with Norman as well as his own explicitly critical opinions of the Special Court. Former Vice President Dr. Albert Joe Demby subsequently testified on 9 and 10 February. Procedural issues relating to the application of the joint criminal enterprise doctrine also arose this week, when counsel for the third accused attempted to intervene while witnesses called by other defence teams were being cross-examined by the Prosecution. The Trial Chamber decided to proceed cautiously and allow such interventions on a case by case basis.