The trial of a Liberian man accused of committing war crimes and crimes against during the Liberian civil war enters pleading phase today, Monday, after the court heard testimonies from both defense and prosecution witnesses.

Alieu Kosiah is being prosecuted in a Swiss court on allegation of leading a group of rebel fighters that raped women, murder civilians and conscripted children as fighters.

He denies the charges.

He is the first Liberian directly standing trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the country’s nearly two decades civil war.

Liberian journalist Anthony Stevens is covering the trial in the Swiss city of Bellinzona, from where he spoke to my colleague Adolphus Mawolo.