CharlesTaylorTrial.org (The Hague)
Alpha Sesay
11 November 2009
As Charles Taylor faced his second day of cross-examination, his defense counsel objected to prosecution attempts to introduce "fresh evidence" after its case was closed, calling it a trial by "ambush." Meanwhile, Mr. Taylor tried to distance himself from the types of acts committed during Sierra Leone's brutal conflict – such as fighters forcing a mother to laugh while they buried her child — saying that he prevented such acts during Liberia's civil strife.
In a move that led to the proceedings being adjourned early today, lead prosecution counsel, Ms. Brenda Hollis, sought to ask the accused former president questions about certain provisions in the Lome Peace Accord – a peace agreement signed between the Sierra Leonean government and the country's main rebel group, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in the Togolese capital, Lome, in 1999.
In an attempt to present a copy of the Lome agreement to Mr. Taylor to discuss specific provisions that benefitted the RUF, Ms Hollis today aimed to establish Mr. Taylor's influence during the peace process. However, Mr. Taylor's defense counsel, Courtenay Griffiths, objected. He argued it was "new evidence" which was not submitted to the court during the prosecution's own case, not used during Mr. Taylor's direct examination. The defense called it a trial by "ambush" for the prosecution to present "fresh evidence" after it had already closed its case.
Presiding judge, Justice Richard Lussick, said that the interests of justice require consideration of all evidence against the accused, but it was necessary to "balance such need for justice with the fair trial rights of the accused." The judges ruled that Ms. Hollis could not introduce new evidence in the form of documents which had not been presented as part of the prosecution's case and were not used by the defense in direct-examination of the accused.
Instead, the Prosecution was urged to make a formal written application to allow the defense opportunity to respond about the inclusion of the Lome Accord. After that, the judges could rule on whether new documents could be introduced as part of the prosecution's cross-examination of the accused.
The judges also rejected Ms. Hollis's request to ask "good faith basis questions" which "will be premised on the documents" but without using the documents themselves. Mr. Griffiths called it "unacceptable."
"It is a back door way of getting into the tribunal," he said.
"You cannot make use of any of these documents until a formal motion is submitted," Justice Lussick ordered.
Ms. Hollis at this stage asked the court to give the prosecution more time to "consider organizing our presentation" while work is being done on the formal motion for the presentation of the documents. The judges ordered that the court will adjourn for the day to give time to the prosecution to re-organize their presentation and continue the cross-examination of the accused tomorrow.
Earlier in the morning, Ms. Hollis sought to cover a few areas relating to Mr. Taylor's direct-examination. Ms. Hollis referenced Mr. Taylor's July 20, 2009 definition of "acts of terrorism" when he said that "for me, if you went to an innocent family and held them up at gun point and there are women and children there, that is an act of terrorism."
Ms. Hollis asked Mr. Taylor whether he agrees that certain acts like sexual violence, rape, murder, attacking civilians in a village and burning their houses, or forcing a mother to laugh while her child is being buried, will constitute acts of terrorism. Mr. Taylor responded that while some of these acts will amount to acts of terrorism, many of them could be looked at as individual crimes. The accused former Liberian president did concede that if "fighters forced a mother to laugh while they buried her child," that will lead to "fear and anguish."
When Ms. Hollis pushed Mr. Taylor that these acts will individually cause fear in victims, Mr. Taylor explained that he cannot determine how people will respond under certain circumstances.
"You are asking me to hypothetically tell how someone will respond under circumstances? People respond differently. I can say anguish but I can't say fear. I am not a psychiatrist. People respond differently under certain circumstances," Mr. Taylor said.
Mr. Taylor rejected suggestions from Ms. Hollis that he was playing games in his response to questions.
"I am not before this court playing games with my life. I reject the notion of playing games," he said.
"That is why in my civil war, we did not have operations like that. Let me make it clear, I did not condone them and that is why I prevented them in Liberia," Mr. Taylor asserted.
Mr. Taylor admitted providing support to RUF rebels in 1991-1992 but rejected notions that such support continued after 1992. The former president also agreed that RUF commander Sam Bockarie visited Liberia in September and October 1998, during which he gave the RUF commander a satellite phone. He agreed that Mr. Bockarie was on a United Nations travel ban list at this time.
Mr. Taylor is responding to charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of Sierra Leone from November 30, 1996. The prosecution alleges that Mr. Taylor was involved in a joint criminal enterprise with RUF rebels who fought an 11-year war in Sierra Leone. Mr. Taylor has denied the allegations against him.
Mr. Taylor's cross-examination continues tomorrow.
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Which one is "total nonsense?".You mean the case of a bandit and former President of Liberia who is been cross-examined at the Hague for his support to the RUF rebels? Should the court listen to you,the world will just go mad in seconds.Because you're the kind of people that a chicken (Roaster) can abruptly stop its crowing when it sees you. Cause it fears to see your image.
Zota,you're not the one to tell who the cour should give money to.Do you really think that those wounded are thinking of the so-called money? We don't need that money. We want to prove to the world that no African bandit or gangster Learder will cause harm and go free in Africa. Taylor will be the first in Africa and some of you,his supporters will hold your heads and mourn over his long prison sentence that the Sierra Leone Judge will give to Taylor. You'll stand in agony on major streets in Monrovia when the Judgement and sentence is handed down. I'm awaiting your next post so I can draw a line on the "NONSENSE" and to inform you the origin of the "NONSENSE".
AgentXX4, Where is Ttahs? The prosecution after only two days is in shambles. What a joke! They are now trying to cheat in bringing in new evidence after they have closed their case. Agent XX4 you can not respond contructively to what people are saying about the trial so you just go off on a tangent. Stay tuned watch how Charles Taylor mesmerizes the prosecution . I am proud to be an African after watching Charles Taylor's performance.
Aki,this is t!!!!! He was promoted just when the bandit and former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor admitted that he did support the RUF and sent his surbordinate bandits in Sierra Leone to cause mayhem. All we have been arguing on is that Taylor did support the RUF in Sierra Leone. He did not only support with weapons but infact sent his killing machines to do the harm.
Aki,why should I follow the trial? You expect me to follow the trial of a man who has caused pain on Sierra Leoneans through his weaked deeds and stands to lie,deny and later come to admit,that yes, I'm part of it. This is the nonsense part of the whole trial that I watch and see the stupidity on you guys who stand to be his supporters. I'm always in tune with the beat of the trial.
Aki,that is not cheating.If the prosecutors bring something of 2003,then we call it additional info,enough to nail Taylor. This is Law. Brenda Hollis and her team have filed an application already.Let's watch and see if their application will be rejected. Whether you're proud or not,the indelible ink is already on you,which I dearly favour and appreciate much.But,been proud to be that of Charles Taylor's supporter,then you risk been blended as a 'Mad Race Dog or Labrador,that race and stop to pick up a bone or retrieves and destroys the evidence'. Sorry, if you seems to be caught in a mile with my wordings.
Aki, tell me a special thing that you know about Taylor. Have you ever met him in person or talk to him? I don't need big bluff. Be pro and respond kindly. Taylor launched his rebellion at the time that Liberians were getting fed up with the Samuel Doe's regime. So,his propaganda machine at that time worked well for him in spreading his big bluff on the air waves of the BBC and other medias.Did you hear him during his "OCTOPUS OPERATION",when Abass Bundu diminish him to a "church rat?" Well, good enough,at least this rat could attend sunday prayers and daily bible studies in the church.
Aki, as Taylor is sentenced to 150 years in jail...I'll be promoted to another rank. I'm not using the word "If!" That is a sure case for that court.Now, he is telling the world that Obasanjo of Nigeria "Duped him".How do you take a pistol from a nortorious-record-holder criminal killer,as a Law Enforcement Officer? "Man pass man" Charley.
This is TOTAL NONSENSE, the prosecution is in disarray this trial should stop NOW and give the money that is use to pay this ineffective prosecution team to those poor and suffering people of Sierra Leone. Not today, tomorrow or next year will this persecution win this case.