Sierra Leoneans speak out ahead of Taylor’s sentence today
By 9am GMT this Wednesday morning, May 30 Judges of the UN backed Sierra Leone Special Court will begin proceedings in the sentencing judgement of the war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor in The Hague, Netherlands.
Taylor is the first former head of state since Nuremberg to face trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the international criminal court.
One country keenly looking out for what his sentence will be is Sierra Leone.
Taylor is being sentenced today for crimes committed during that country’s decade-long civil war, which ended in 2002.
Ahead of today’s sentencing, what’s the mood among Sierra Leoneans.
WADR’s correspondent Mohamed Konneh sends this report from Freetown.
Click audio below to listen
Convicted former Liberian President Charles Taylor. So, shortly, the world will know whether the judges will hand down a heavy or light sentence. The appeal process is due to take six months.
Taylor’s last stand
On April 26, the former Liberian leader was convicted on all 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for aiding and abetting the former RUF rebels in committing atrocities in neighbouring Sierra Leone...more in few minutes
Since the conviction, the prosecution has recommended a sentence of 80 years in jail, but the his defense lawyers have pleaded with the court for a lighter sentence, because they said 80 years was too excessive.
Exactly 20 days after his conviction, Taylor was given the opportunity by the war crimes court to speak ahead of his May 30 sentencing.
On May16, 2012 exactly 20 days later, the convicted former Liberian leader was given the chance to speak his mind, before he’s sentenced.
That Taylor did with all his might, ahead of Wednesday sentencing. He gave his side of the story as to why he has ended up behind bars for war crimes in Sierra Leone.
Click audio below to listen
