18 August 2008
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The Hague — The monitors of former President Charles Taylor's trial report for www.charlestaylortrial.org
Court Adjourned for One Day Due to Absence of Taylor
Today the Special Court for Sierra Leone resumed after a month summer recess.
Presiding Judge Doherty informed with Lead Defense Counsel Courtenay Griffiths why Charles Taylor was not in Court today. Griffiths informed the Court that last Friday Mr. Townsend from the Registry and Silas Chekera from the Defense tended to Taylor who expressed his concerns about a raised level of security during his transportation to Court starting this Monday, while the security risk was not related to himself. There are two particular procedures to which Taylor objects:
1. during the transport certain measures cause him sensory deprivation (on request of Taylor Griffiths did not go into detail here);
2. during the transport Taylor will be chained around his waist, leading him to feel like a leashed animal, which he finds particularly degrading.
Griffiths continued to say that a hightened level of security has caused difficulties in the past, while in those cases it always proved to be a false alarm. The accused would like to see the matter investigated and will not come to Court when these two measures are in place. Griffiths drew attention to the impact these measures may have on Taylor having a fair trial:
1. to the public it may appear that Taylor himself poses a threat;
2. having to undergo these measures will hinder the accused in the attention he can give to the proceedings and therefore also hinder the accused’s advisers.
Griffiths therefore applicated that the proceedings be adjourned until these particular difficulties have been resolved.
Lead Prosecutor Brenda Hollis replied that under rule 60AI the accused had the opportunity and the right to come to Court and that it was his choice not to atttend. Taylor waived his right to come to Court and these proceedings should not be held hostage to the will of the accused.
Registrar Townsend said that on 13 August 2008 Charles Taylor was informed that security during transportation would raise from medium level to high level, due to a situation having to do with another ICC detainee. This morning Taylor declined to fill in the form in which he waivers his right to be present in Court.
Subsequently Court was adjourned at 9.50 a.m. for the judges to confer in private. Court was back in session at 10.30 a.m. when Presiding Judge Doherty informed the Court about their decision:
The trial proceedings hitherto have been very smoothly and Taylor has conducted himself very reasonably. The upgrading of the level of security is due to factors non relating to his behaviour. Proceedings would not contiue well without the benefit of instruction of the accused. It appears the matter would be capable of a solution. The Registrar is asked directly to investigate the situation with an urge to resolve and report to this Court at 9.30 a.m. tomorrow.
Subsequently Court is adjourned at 10.45 a.m. until tomorrow 9.30 a.m.
Copyright (c) 2003 Open Society Institute. Reprinted with the permission of the Open Society Institute, 400 West 59th Street, New York, NY 10019 USA, www.justiceinitiative.org. or www.soros.org
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I don't blame the court, i blame Ma Ellen and the African nigerian baboon (obasanjo) for bringing this disgrace on Africa. Putting chain around someone's who is not proven guilty, shame on Africa. As we are listening to the Trc in Liberia, we now understand the roots of the liberian crisis .We know that sierra leone was part of the 1985 failed coup that lead to the brutal civil war. They should show up at the TRC to give account of their involvment since we don't have a war crime court. So let the freetown bor bor them leave our… [Read Full Text]
I cannot belived that, Ellen and Obasanjo, can be blame for what Charles Taylor brought on him self. Other people did not have access to a court like him. If he did not take his war to Sierra leone, he could not have be to where he is today. If they like it he can be chain from his head to his feet. Dave
The evil that men do lives after them - Charles deserves all of the above questions you are asking. Well done the court and good luck for Charles Taylor.
taylor brought nothing on him self.You need to understand what this western politics is about.While America can't push Ellen to bring in a war crime court.They know that if they try it, bockets will waste on them and their so call governor Ellen johnson seleaf for the state of liberia that was little developed by a bush boy called doe. Let them bring the court. By this we will know who free taylor from jail in America.And how he ended up in libya and how they got training and who all where part of this. We know charles taylor never… [Read Full Text]
when will we learn??? Africans, moreover Liberians when, why are some of our bother just been brain wash on this issue with our fomer leader Charles Taylor,Today the people of serra leone is taking him to court of something, they themselves have done to their own people and now Mr. Taylor have to pay the "price for who know what" What a shame on us as african for allow the white men to use us aganist eachother after brinnig so much trouble to west africa and now they want to set an example on Mr.Taylor for their dirty deeds in… [Read Full Text]