Special Court for Sierra Leone, Taylor Trial, Update 108

Taylor Trial

Special Court for Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone

English

Taylor‘s direct-examination, conducted by his Lead Counsel, Courtenay Griffiths, QC, lasted thirteen weeks. Taylor‘s testimony involved a detailed account of his rise to power, West African politics, his efforts at making peace in Sierra Leone, and his ongoing struggle to retain power and promote stability in Liberia. The Defense focused on distancing Taylor from the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), and highlighted the myriad of regional and international players involved in the Sierra Leone conflict; Taylor‘s role as a peacemaker in Sierra Leone; the ongoing battles for control Taylor faced as president of Liberia; and the porous and uncontrolled border with Sierra Leone. The Defense also led evidence aimed at generally discrediting Prosecution witnesses.

The Judges of Trial Chamber II, in keeping with their generally passive approach to Courtroom management, did not attempt to limit the scope, duration, or manner of questioning during the direct examination. The Court applied a lenient standard to the introduction of documentary evidence, particularly documents from Taylor‘s personal archives, on which the Defense relied heavily throughout Taylor‘s testimony. After the Trial Chamber repeatedly overruled Prosecution objections to this approach, the Prosecution limited itself to intervening only when evidence raised concerns about witness protection and security.