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Three-Judge Panel Appointed to Try Taylor at UN War Crimes Court in Sierra Leone

Posted on: Monday, 3 April 2006, 06:00 CDT

Text of report by independent Liberian Star Radio website on 2 April

The Special Court in Sierra Leone has announced three international judges would sit on the case involving [former Liberian President] Charles Taylor.

The court told our correspondent in Sierra Leone the three justices are from Uganda, the Pacific [Samoa] and Northern Ireland. The UN-backed court said no jury would be involved in Taylor's trial.

According to our correspondent, the court could not say whether witnesses would be drawn from Sierra Leone or from the international community.

A Sierra Leonean lawyer studying in the USA has offered to defend Charles Taylor at the UN-backed war crimes tribunal. Mr Hassan Abu Kamara described the court as a mockery and total disgrace to African democracy.

The first Sierra Leonean lawyer hired by Mr Taylor died in his sleep more than two years ago.

Our correspondent said the tribunal in Freetown has offered to provide a defence lawyer for Mr Taylor if he cannot afford one.

Star Radio correspondent quoted the court officials as saying the detained former Liberian president was eating well and in good spirits.

Source: BBC Monitoring Africa

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