Cross-Examination of Charles Taylor

By Laticia Sanchez

The Special Court of Sierra Leone (SCSL) resumed with the cross-examination of Charles Taylor, former Liberian President, on January 11, 2010. Taylor is currently charged with 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He has denied allegations of supplying arms and ammunition to rebels in return for Sierra Leone blood diamonds and helping RUF rebels plan operations in which rape, murder, and amputations were committed.

In early 2010, Brenda Hollis, Lead Prosecutor for the SCSL, questioned Taylor about allegations made by actress Mia Farrow pertaining to a 1997 party in South Africa, which was hosted by Nelson Mandela and attended by Naomi Campbell, Mia Farrow, and other celebrities. The allegations claim Taylor delivered a diamond to Naomi Campbell that he had received from the junta regime. The Prosecutor argued the inclusion of the allegations would refute Taylor’s denials that he ever received diamonds when he was in the Nation Patriotic Front (NPFL) or President of Liberia. The use of a document with the allegations reignited the on-going battle over the use of fresh evidence during cross examination. The Judges disallowed the Prosecution from using the document in cross-examination.

In addition, the Prosecution used Taylor’s four month direct examination testimony to challenge Taylor on topics outside the indictment timeframe to test Taylor’s credibility as a witness. Taylor was asked about his involvement in the 1985 coup to overthrow the then-Liberian president, Samuel Doe; alleged money embezzlement; and the reason for his stepping down as Liberian president. In examination Taylor said the 2003 attack by Liberian rebels on an annex of the United States Embassy in Monrovia, was what made him decide to step down as President. The Prosecution drew attention to the fact the attack occurred one month after the Accra Peace talks, during which Taylor indicated his willingness to step down as President.

The Prosecution also alleged that in 1999, when the RUF rebels entered into negotiations with the Government of Sierra Leone, Taylor advised his negotiations team to ensure that the peace agreement would benefit RUF rebels. However, Taylor denied the allegations.

In the second week of cross-examination, Taylor denied several more of the Prosecution’s allegations, including that Taylor knew about RUF commander Sam Bockarie’s threat in December 1998 to attack Freetown. The threat was carried out in January 1999 when RUF rebels attacked Freetown. The rebels committed murders and rapes, burned houses, and amputated the limbs of civilians. The Prosecution dismissed Taylor’s denial, arguing that as point-person for peace in Sierra Leone, he would have been aware of such threats. The Prosecution further alleged that Taylor was superior to RUF leaders, and he knew or had reason to know that the rebels were committing such atrocities. One of Taylor’s central defenses during his trial has been his stated role as peace maker during the Sierra Leone war. Taylor maintains that in 1997 when he became Liberian president, the Economic Community of West African States made him head peace-maker for the conflict in Sierra Leone, and that he did not know about Bockarie’s threats of attack.

In the coming weeks the Prosecution will continue with their cross-examination of Charles Taylor. The Prosecutor will begin stepping away from demonstrating Taylor’s untruthfulness during his testimony and begin focusing on specific allegations such as the use of children soldiers, physical and sexual violence, and other acts of terrorism directed at civilians.