Special Court for Sierra Leone, Taylor Trial, Update 106

Taylor Trial

Special Court for Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone

English

The trial against Charles Taylor rushed ahead in the month of October: the Prosecution called 32 witnesses in 17 days of trial, and the parties litigated several noteworthy procedural issues. The witnesses (all crime-base or victim witnesses) provided harrowing testimony about mass atrocities they claim to have experienced or witnessed in Sierra Leone. Nearly half of the witnesses testified under Rule 92bis, which allowed them to submit prior written statements in lieu of undergoing direct examination. Pursuant to court order, however, the Defense was granted the right to cross-examine any 92bis witness it wished to question in open court. After Defense made clear that it intended to call all proposed 92bis witnesses to The Hague for cross-examination, the Prosecution reduced the total number of witnesses it intends to call from 144 (72 viva voce and 72 via Rule 92bis), to about 95, nearly 50 witnesses fewer than originally slated. By the end of the reporting period, the Prosecution had called a total of 80 witnesses. The focus this month on victim witnesses also gave rise to litigation over several procedural issues in court, including the rescission of protective measures, the general well-being and treatment of victim witnesses, and WVS redactions of confidential information executed without a court order. There was also an unsuccessful Defense motion to disqualify the Bench from presiding over the testimony of a particular witness.