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Liberia ex-president Taylor verdict expected in 2010: SCSL prosecutor

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) prosecutor Stephen Rapp  said Monday that a verdict in the war crimes case against former Liberian President Charles Taylor is expected in early 2010. Rapp said that the last of the prosecution's 91 witnesses was called last Friday and that the trial will likely remain in recess until April, when the defense will begin calling witnesses. Taylor has pleaded not guilty to all 11 counts of crimes against humanity, violations of the Geneva Conventions, and other violations of international humanitarian law. Taylor is generally deemed responsible for leading and funding civil wars in Liberia and neighboring Sierra Leone. He has previously complained that his single court-appointed defense lawyer was unfairly outnumbered by the prosecution team. The criticism prompted the SCSL to add four people to Taylor's defense team and increase funding available to Taylor to approximately $100,000 per month, despite a UN report that concluded Taylor may control millions of dollars held in bank accounts worldwide. It was later determined that Taylor held $5 billion in two US banks during his presidency. His trial began in Sierra Leone, but has been moved to The Hague for security reasons. Last month, Taylor's son was sentenced to 97 years in a US prison for committing torture in Liberia.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on February 03, 2009 (boomark / email).