Charles Taylor trial: British lawyer walks out of court
A British lawyer for former Liberian President Charles Taylor has walked out of a war crimes trial. Courtenay Griffiths told Channel 4 News the judges had shown inflexibility which he found appalling.
British defence barrister, Courtenay Griffiths, walked out in protest after two judges refused to accept his final submission because it was filed after the court’s deadline.
Charles Taylor, who was president of Liberia from 1997-2003 faces 11 charges of war crimes, including murder, rape, and crimes against humanity.
Mr Griffiths told Channel 4 News that the decision not to read his evidence could result in Taylor being convicted without the judges having heard any arguments on his behalf.
Charles Taylor denies all charges against him.
The court’s deadlines
In October 2010 the court set a deadline of 14 January for final written submissions.
The defence claims that after the order was made new evidence came to light including certain Wikileaks cables.
As a result Charles Taylor’s lawyers filed motions for adjudication by the court.
When the 14 January deadline arrived Taylor’s lawyers say there were still 5 or 6 motions outstanding and awaiting decisions by the judges.
Mr Griffiths told Channel 4 News the situation was unprecedented: “In my 30 years of experience I’ve never known of a situation where one makes closing (written) arguments when there are still important legal issues to be decided by the judges.”
The final submission was filed 20 days late on 4 February once decisions were taken on the outstanding legal issues.
Mr Taylor shares our view that it’s totally unjust for the judges to refuse to hear his side of the argument. Courtenay Griffiths
Mr Griffiths added: “One would have thought that any judge looking at a trial which has lasted for three years…would have looked at the broader picture, its priorities, the complexities, its importance for Africa and the globe as a whole.
“Looking at the broader picture they should allow themselves to look at the brief. They’ve taken the very disproportionate measure of deciding they don’t want to look at it at all and we submit that totally unreasonable.”
He continued: “Mr Taylor shares our view that it’s totally unjust for the judges to refuse to hear his side of the argument.”
Charles Taylor’s legal team has now appealed against the judges’ decision and will not return to court until the result of that appeal has been heard.
Witness
Last year supermodel Naomi Campbell was called to give evidence at the trial.
She was there because of claims that Charles Taylor had given her so-called “blood diamonds” in 1997 during an event hosted by Nelson Mandela.
The prosecution was trying to establish a link between Charles Taylor and a number of uncut diamonds that Miss Campbell said she had been given in South Africa.
Actress Mia Farrow and Miss Campbell’s former agent were also called to give evidence.
The Special Court for Sierra Leone in the Hague has heard from more than 100 witnesses in what is the first international trial of an African former head of state.
Charles Taylor has denied all charges against him.
A verdict is due during 2011. If Charles Taylor is found guilty he will serve his sentence in Britain.