Prosecutor vs. Charles Taylor

The Prosecutor vs. Charles Ghankay Taylor

Charles Ghankay Taylor, the former President of Liberia, was indicted under seal on 7 March 2003. The indictment was announced on 4 June 2003 on his first trip outside of Liberia. In August 2003 Charles Taylor resigned as president and went into exile in Nigeria. He was transferred to the Special Court on 29 March 2006. Due to concerns about regional security should the trial be held in Sierra Leone, the Special Court arranged for the trial to be held at The Hague in the Netherlands. Charles Taylor was transferred to The Hague on 30 June 2006.

The Prosecution opened their case on 4 June 2007. Charles Taylor boycotted the proceedings and dismissed his legal team. The trial was adjourned unti new counsel could be assigned.

The Prosecution opened witness testimony on 7 January 2008. The Prosecution formally closed their case on 27 February 2009 after having presented testimony from 91 witnesses. On 4 May 2009 the Trial Chamber dismissed in its entirety a Motion for Judgment of Acquittal brought by the Defence.

The Defence opened their case on 13 July 2009.

The Indictment

Summary of the Charges

The Taylor trial proceedings are streamed over the internet, and can be watched at Hague Link 1 and Hague Link 2

Defence Team

Charles Taylor is represented by Mr. Courtenay Griffiths QC (Lead Counsel), Mr. Terry Munyard (Co-Counsel), and Mr. Morris Anyah (Co-Counsel)

Timeline

7 March 2003
The Trial Chamber confirms the indictment of Charles Taylor, signed by the Prosecutor on 3 March, and orders it to remain under seal.

4 June 2003
The Prosecutor unseals the indictment while Charles Taylor is visiting Ghana.

11 August 2003
Charles Taylor steps down as President of Liberia and goes into exile in Calabar, Nigeria.

4 December 2003
Interpol issues a “Red Notice” (international arrest warrant) for Charles Taylor.

31 May 2004
The Appeals Chamber dismisses a motion brought on behalf of Charles Taylor which challenged his indictment on the grounds of sovereign immunity and extraterritoriality.

16 March 2006
The Court approves an amended indictment, reducing the counts from 17 to 11.

29 March 2006
Charles Taylor is apprehended by the Nigerian authorities and flown to Monrovia where he is arrested by UNMIL. He is then transferred to the Special Court.

3 April 2006
Charles Taylor makes his initial appearance at the Special Court in Freetown. He pleads not guilty to all charges.

16 June 2006
UN Security Council Res. 1688 clears the way for Taylor to be tried in The Hague, saying that his presence in the sub-region was “an impediment to stability and a threat to the peace”.

30 June 2006
Charles Taylor is transferred to The Hague.

4 June 2007
The Prosecutor makes his opening statement in The Hague. Charles Taylor boycotts the trial and dismisses his legal team. The trial is adjourned until new counsel can be assigned.

7 January 2008
Prosecution witness testimony begins.

30 January 2009
Prosecution witness testimony ends. In all, 91 witnesses testified, including 58 crime base witnesses, 29 insider (linkage) witnesses and four expert witnesses. In addition, written statements were admitted from four crime base witnesses, and reports from two additional expert witnesses.

27 February 2009
The Prosecution formally rests its case.

4 May 2009
The Trial Chamber dismisses in its entirety a Motion for Judgment of Acquittal brought by the Defence.

13 July 2009
The Defence opens their case.

Venue and Schedule

Venue

The Special Court trial of Charles Ghankay Taylor is taking place in Courtroom 2 at the International Criminal Court (ICC) building, The Hague, the Netherlands. View the MAP provided by the ICC for directions to the facility.

Trial Schedule

Monday to Thursday
First Session - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Second Session - 12:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Third Session - 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Friday

First Session - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Second Session - 12:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
There is no third session on Fridays. The Court will not sit on Fridays during the testimony of Charles Taylor.

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