“Taylor contributed to peace in S Leone”

  1. Posted on Tuesday 14 July 2009 - 08:25
    Murtala
    Image of Murtala
    Murtala Mohamed Kamara, Africa News reporter in Freetown, Sierra Leone
    Defense lawyers for former Liberian President Charles Ghankay Taylor has told the UN Backed Special Court for Sierra Leone that their client contributed to end one of Africa's most brutal civil wars in Sierra Leone. Taylor is standing trail on 11 counts for various war crimes and crimes against humanity.
    Taylor
    His trial opened at the UN backed court in Sierra Leone in June 2007 but was transferred to The Hague citing security reasons in the ‘trouble’ West African region. Taylor will be the first witness to testify on his behalf on Tuesday.

    Taylor’s lead defense counsel Courtenay Griffiths told the BBC that "We do not take issue with the fact that terrible atrocities occurred in Sierra Leone. This case should not be about what happened in Sierra Leone, but who bears the greatest responsibility, bearing in mind that Charles Taylor tried to achieve peace."

    Claire Carlton-Hanciles, of the court's defense office said the Ex-Liberian leader is well prepared to defend himself "I saw Mr Taylor about two days ago. He is in high spirits."

    In May, judges rejected a request by Taylor's defence team to acquit him because of a lack of evidence.

    Charles Taylor became the first African head of state to be tried by a UN court.

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