YK:n alainen Sierra Leonen erityistuomioistuin tuomitsi Charles Taylorin sotarikoksista myös valitusasteessa

30.9.2013 | Oikeusuutiset

Markku Fredman

Sierra Leonen erityistuomioistuimen (Special Court for Sierra Leone, SCSL) tuomitsi entisen Liberian presidentti Charles Taylorin myös valituksen jälkeen 50 vuoden vankeuteen sotarikoksista, joihin syyllistyttiin Sierra Leonen sisällissodan aikana 1990-luvun lopulla.

Tuomioistuimen lehdistötiedotteesta:

The Special Court Appeals Chamber today unanimously upheld the conviction of former Liberian President Charles Taylor on 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and affirmed the 50-year sentence imposed by the Trial Chamber.

On 26 April 2012, the Trial Chamber found Mr. Taylor guilty of aiding and abetting crimes committed by RUF and AFRC rebel forces against Sierra Leones civilian population over a five-year period, and of planning, with RUF Battlefield Commander Sam Bockarie, crimes committed by rebel forces during the January 1999 attack on Freetown. The Defence and the Prosecution had each appealed both judgement and sentence.

The Appeals Chamber, consisting of Justice George Gelaga King (presiding), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, Justice Renate Winter, Justice Jon Kamanda, Justice Shireen Avis Fisher and Alternate Judge Justice Philip Waki, found that the Trial Chamber had properly applied the standard of proof of beyond a reasonable doubt. The Judges also dismissed Defence challenges to findings of fact, saying that the findings were reasonable in light of the Trial Chamber’s careful and cautious approach to the evaluation of the evidence. The Judges said the Trial Chamber had relied on a combination of direct, circumstantial and hearsay evidence in reaching its findings, and that none of its findings were based on uncorroborated hearsay evidence.

The Trial Chamber also found that Mr. Taylor had supplied the rebels with arms and ammunition, military personnel, sustained operational support, encouragement and moral support, knowing that their strategy was to commit crimes against the civilian population. The Appeals Chamber concurred, saying that Mr. Taylor had a substantial effect on the rebels’ capacity to implement its operational strategy and to carry out attacks on civilians.

Koko lehdistötiedote löytyy täältä: press release

Koko tuomio löytyy täältä: Taylor appeal judgement

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