Trial Monitoring

Special Court for Sierra Leone, Taylor Trial, Update 112

June 01, 2010
Author(s)
Jennifer Easterday
Elena Marrs
Special Court for Sierra Leone, Taylor Trial, Update 112
Case or Series

Taylor Trial

Case or Series

Special Court for Sierra Leone

Country

Sierra Leone

Language

English

Trial Chamber II at the SCSL continued to hear evidence from Defense witnesses this month in the case against Charles Taylor. Witnesses, all of whom were NPFL insiders, testified about the early days of the NPFL, and told the Court that Taylor did not supply the RUF with arms or ammunition. Witnesses further claimed that the NPFL did not use child soldiers or commit crimes against Liberian civilians—who, witnesses testified, welcomed and supported the NPFL. 

May also saw a motion in which the Prosecution requested to re-open its case and hear testimony from Naomi Campbell and others about Taylor allegedly giving Campbell a large rough-cut diamond/several rough-cut diamonds while at a fundraiser at Nelson Mandela’s house in 1997. The motion spurred significant media coverage for the SCSL, as Campbell publicly denied that Taylor had given her diamonds but refused to cooperate with the SCSL Prosecution.