Archive for: RUF

Charles Taylor Trial Report 13 July – 10 November 2009 This report provides an in-depth review of the examination-in-chief of Charles Taylor in the Special Court for Sierra Leone case Prosecutor v. Charles Taylor. With much anticipation and media attention, Charles Taylor, former president of Liberia, took the stand in [...]

3 July 2009 April 2009 marked the halfway point in the case of Prosecutor v. Charles Taylor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL). Pursuant to Rule 98 of the SCSL Rules of Procedure and Evidence, Trial Chamber II heard oral submissions from the parties on a motion for [...]

RUF Trial Report: Augustine Gbao Defense Case-In-Chief 2 – 24 June 2008 This report offers a thematic overview and analysis of the evidentiary, legal, procedural, and court management issues that arose during the final session of the Revolutionary United Front (“RUF”) trial,during which the Defense for third accused Augustine Gbao [...]

Trial Chamber I – RUF Trial Week Ending 29 June 2007 Early this week, the Prosecution concluded its cross examination of the first accused, Issa Sesay. After Mr. Sesay stepped down, the Defense called its next two witnesses, both civilian women from Kailahun district testifying under protective measures. They were [...]

Trial Chamber I – RUF Trial Week Ending 22 June 2007 This week, Trial Chamber One concluded its voir dire inquiry into the post-arrest custodial interrogation of first accused, Issa Sesay. Defense called three witnesses and the Chamber heard brief closing submissions from each party. On Friday morning, the Bench [...]

Trial Chamber I – RUF Trial Week Ending 15 June 2007 The Investigations Section of the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) came into serious disrepute this week  during a special voir dire hearing to determine the admissibility of post-arrest statements made in 2003 by  first accused, Issa Sesay. The four [...]

Trial Chamber I – RUF Trial Week Ending 7 June 2007 Trial Chamber I spent this week hearing detailed oral arguments on the admissibility of prior statements made by the first accused, Issa Sesay. The statements in controversy were taken by OTP Investigators during ten days of custodial interviews in [...]

  Trial Chamber I – RUF Trial 29 May – 1 June 2007 First accused, Issa Sesay, concluded direct examination early in the week. Prior to cross  examination, Mr. Sesay’s Counsel, Wayne Jordash attempted to bring a motion to  suppress certain anticipated Prosecution evidence. The Trial Chamber spent a great [...]

Trial Chamber I – RUF Trial Week Ending 21 July 2006 The bench read its considered statement on the Defence submissions regarding the comments made by the Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Annan, during his visit to the SCSL on 3 July 2006, at the beginning of proceedings on July 20th. On [...]

Trial Chamber I – RUF Trial Week Ending 14 July 2006 The 4th week of the current RUF trial session saw the closed session testimony of both an insider witness as well as an expert witness for the Prosecution, who is set to close their case by the end of this session. The [...]