A former militia commander, converted into a state witness against 19 others implicated in the 2011 cross border raids in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire, has told the court of the dreadful onslaught that sent dozens of people, including UN peacekeepers to their grave. "I never came here to lie or was paid to lie on my colleagues but saying the truth about our operation in Cote d'Ivoire. Most fighters know what we all committed. Moreover this is our country and our participation in such war was senseless to me after realizing it," said Badio Graye, who should have been one of the accused persons standing trial along with his accomplices on mercenary and other charges committed in the Ivorian civil war.

Graye, who claimed to be an ex-frontline commander in neighboring Ivory Coast but later turned in his arm, testified that it was Nyezee Barway (papa) Rambo, Edward Cole and Alfred Bobby James son of the late military strongman Charles Julu among others who killed the seven United Nations Peacekeepers in Cote d'Ivoire.

"It was Nyezee Barway alias papa who led the attack that resulted into the killing of the UN Peacekeepers. The purpose of the attack was to get arms and ammunitions because they were running out of supply and losing areas to their opponents", he pointed said.

But Graye distanced himself from the killing of the UN Peacekeepers.

The ex-Liberian frontline commander became prosecutors' fourth witnesses and first to come from Grand Gedeh County where most of his colleagues were arrested. He made the testimony on Saturday when he took the witness stand at the Criminal Court 'D' Court.

Witness Graye was quizzed under cross examination by defense lawyers as to how he knew that Nyezee Barway, Rambo, Edward Cole and Alfred Bobby James, among others, killed the seven United Nations Peacekeepers since he was not a part of the attack.

He responded, "Our leader Nyezee Barway briefed me. He told me that one of the surviving UN peacekeeper called my name (Badio Graye) to him. As a result, he executed him in order to destroy evidence."

"To tell you how serious I was after realizing that our participation was senseless, I turned myself in to the police in Grand Gedeh and explained what all we did in Cote d'Ivoire. Statements were taking from me and I was not arrested.

"I was not charged but was only told to go home and police were keeping eyes on me.

"I accept that offer because this is about our country.

"We participated in the war and caused lot of troubles that resulted in the destruction of lives and properties."

He fifth witness, Thomas Gludior who also claimed to be ex-fighter and now Correction Officer in Grand Gedeh alleged that he knew most of the defendants who he alleged took part in the war in that West African country.

"Most of them admitted to me which have recorded to tell you that I'm not lying on them. The recorder is here with me in court and you will listen to it. "They took me once at the military base and showed me all the arms they had during their operation.

"After former Ivorian president Laurant Gbagbo failed in his attempt to regain power, they all left Cote d'Ivoire for Liberia and hid all their weapons in the forest in Grand Gedeh.

"I assisted the ERU police in arresting most of the defendants and to unearth most of the hidden arms and ammunitions only because I wanted to save them from trouble.

"I know family and relatives including friends are feeling bad because of my testimonies but national interest comes first above anything.

"I'm saying the truth here today and it will be backed with recorded evidence", he pointed out.

State prosecutor third witness, Senior Investigator Alfred Quire who was earlier rejected by defense lawyers not to give evidence because he had prior knowledge of the case was given a green light to testify after the court denied defense lawyer's request.

He identified all weapons that were discovered based on the investigation with defendants and was confirmed by the court and admitted into evidence for state lawyers. Since the multiple offenses trial opened, the court has admitted nearly 43 documents and materials evidence for the state.

The 19 accused Liberians who were arrested separately were indicted on two separate indictments in 2011 and 2012 with the same multiple charges.

Meanwhile presiding Judge Yussif Kaba says the trial will resume on July 29, 2013 at the Criminal Court 'D' Temple of Justice.