| Published on: | 2011-02-09 11:12:47 |
The trial of Charles Taylor, the former Liberian President charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, faced upheaval today after Mr Taylor's lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths, walked out of court.
The reason for his anger was that the three-judge panel refused to accept his written summary of the defence case because it was meant to be submitted on January 14.
Prosecutor Brenda Hollis claimed: "The accused is not attending a social event. He may not RSVP at the last minute," adding: "He is the accused at a criminal proceeding."
The document included Taylor's final brief in which his lawyers summed up their defence. Today's rejection of the document lead Mr Griffiths to complain: “How will posterity judge the credibility of this court if, at this 11th hour, they prevented Mr Taylor from presenting ... 90% of his closing arguments?"
British lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths, ignored judges at the special tribunal for Sierra Leone, who ordered him to stay in court after his “unprecedented” anger.
January 14 was the deadline for both the defence and prosecution to submit their final briefs which would sum up their arguments.
“If the judges had accepted the defence files, that would have been disadvantageous for the other party,” says Patrick Fatoma, Outreach Coordinator with the Special Court of Sierra Leone, who spoke exclusively to The Fresh Outlook.
Although today's events were quite disruptive, in Mr Fatoma's opinion, the case will “certainly” continue: “The judges don't want to waste more time,” he said.
This week is crucial in the trial of Charles Taylor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone. As Mr Fatoma explains, today was the day of the prosecution's presentation to the court whilst the presentation for the defence can be expected tomorrow. The rebuttals will be delivered on Friday.
In light of today's events, Mr Fatoma claims that: “We will have to wait and see what the judges decide,” adding: “I suppose that the defence will be able to do its presentation anyway, despite the fact that its brief was not accepted.”
Ugandan Judge, Julia Sebutinde, disagreed and warned that to refuse to accept Mr Taylor's brief "is to deny him his fundamental right to defend himself”.
However, Presiding Judge Teresa Doherty said Mr Courtenay had voluntarily waived his right to be present: "This court case will proceed to its close as scheduled.”
In Mr Fatoma's opinion, by missing the deadline, Charles Taylor lost his chance to defend: “Of course he has the right to be defended, but if his lawyer goes away there's not much more to do.”
Mr Taylor, the first former African head of state to be tried by an international court, has pleaded innocent to 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Prosecutors allege that these crimes also include murder, torture and employing child soldiers.
By Eva Fernandez
[Image courtesy of Wikimedia]
The reason for his anger was that the three-judge panel refused to accept his written summary of the defence case because it was meant to be submitted on January 14.
Prosecutor Brenda Hollis claimed: "The accused is not attending a social event. He may not RSVP at the last minute," adding: "He is the accused at a criminal proceeding."
The document included Taylor's final brief in which his lawyers summed up their defence. Today's rejection of the document lead Mr Griffiths to complain: “How will posterity judge the credibility of this court if, at this 11th hour, they prevented Mr Taylor from presenting ... 90% of his closing arguments?"
British lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths, ignored judges at the special tribunal for Sierra Leone, who ordered him to stay in court after his “unprecedented” anger.
January 14 was the deadline for both the defence and prosecution to submit their final briefs which would sum up their arguments.
“If the judges had accepted the defence files, that would have been disadvantageous for the other party,” says Patrick Fatoma, Outreach Coordinator with the Special Court of Sierra Leone, who spoke exclusively to The Fresh Outlook.
Although today's events were quite disruptive, in Mr Fatoma's opinion, the case will “certainly” continue: “The judges don't want to waste more time,” he said.
This week is crucial in the trial of Charles Taylor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone. As Mr Fatoma explains, today was the day of the prosecution's presentation to the court whilst the presentation for the defence can be expected tomorrow. The rebuttals will be delivered on Friday.
In light of today's events, Mr Fatoma claims that: “We will have to wait and see what the judges decide,” adding: “I suppose that the defence will be able to do its presentation anyway, despite the fact that its brief was not accepted.”
Ugandan Judge, Julia Sebutinde, disagreed and warned that to refuse to accept Mr Taylor's brief "is to deny him his fundamental right to defend himself”.
However, Presiding Judge Teresa Doherty said Mr Courtenay had voluntarily waived his right to be present: "This court case will proceed to its close as scheduled.”
In Mr Fatoma's opinion, by missing the deadline, Charles Taylor lost his chance to defend: “Of course he has the right to be defended, but if his lawyer goes away there's not much more to do.”
Mr Taylor, the first former African head of state to be tried by an international court, has pleaded innocent to 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Prosecutors allege that these crimes also include murder, torture and employing child soldiers.
By Eva Fernandez
[Image courtesy of Wikimedia]
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