Taylor’s appeals judgement ready Sept. 26
Freetown, Sept. (SLENA) – A recent press release issued out by the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) Outreach and Public Affairs office in Freetown has disclosed that judges of the Special Court’s Appeals Chamber will deliver their appeal judgment in the trial of former Liberian President, Charles Taylor on Thursday 26th September in the Hague.
Sierra Leoneans would recall that on 26th April 2012, the Judges of Trial Chamber Two (2) found Mr. Taylor guilty on all counts of 11-count indictment. The Judges declared unanimously that he had participated in the planning of crimes, and of aiding and abetting crimes committed by rebel forces in Sierra Leone.
On 30th May 2012, the Trial Chamber sentenced him to a term of 50 years imprisonment.
The press statement also disclosed that the Defence appealed against the judgement and sentence on 42 grounds, arguing that the Trial Chamber had made systematic errors in the evaluation of evidence and in the application of law sufficiently serious to “reverse all findings of guilt entered against him” and to vacate the judgement.
The Defence also argued that the 50 year sentence was “manifestly unreasonable”.
The Release further stated that the Prosecution had also appealed on (4) grounds, arguing that Mr. Taylor should have been found individually criminally responsible for ordering and instigating crimes committed by rebels in Sierra Leone.
The Prosecution also asked the Appeals Chamber to reverse the Trial Chamber’s finding that crimes committed in certain areas of the Five Districts fell outside the scope of the indictment, and argued that the 50 year sentence was not “reflective of the inherent gravity of the totality of his criminal conduct and overall culpability” and should be increased to 80 years.
Charles Taylor was tried on an 11 count indictment, alleging (as violations of Article Three (3) common to The Geneva Conventions and of additional Protocol Two (2) acts of terrorism, murder, outrages upon personal dignity, cruel treatment and pillage (as crime against humanity) murder, rape, sexual slavery, other inhumane acts and enslavement, (as other serious violation of international humanitarian law) the conscription, enlistment or use of child soldiers.
BP/SLENA
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