Court to Deliver Milestone Verdict in Charles Taylor’s War Crimes Trial
An international war crimes tribunal delivers its verdict Thursday in the trial of Charles Taylor, the former Liberian president accused of arming rebels who raped, killed and mutilated civilians in neighboring Sierra Leone.
Taylor is the first African leader to appear before an international war crimes tribunal.
The former war lord has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and other violations of international humanitarian law.
Prosecutors say he armed rebels and fueled a bloody civil war that led to widespread murder, rape and mutilation in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Witnesses testified about grisly violence during the conflict, including chopping off the arms of civilians, and shooting and disemboweling of pregnant women and children.