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Taylor trial set for next April Taylor trial set for next April
(10 minutes later)
The war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor has been provisionally set to start on 2 April 2007, a UN-backed court has said.The war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor has been provisionally set to start on 2 April 2007, a UN-backed court has said.
Judge Julia Sebutinde said she was concerned that the trial should not be unduly delayed.Judge Julia Sebutinde said she was concerned that the trial should not be unduly delayed.
Mr Taylor faces trial in The Hague by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, where he is accused of backing a brutal 10-year rebellion.Mr Taylor faces trial in The Hague by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, where he is accused of backing a brutal 10-year rebellion.
The trial was moved in case it led to conflict in Liberia and Sierra Leone.The trial was moved in case it led to conflict in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
'Miscarriage of justice'
"We are of the view that now is the time to fix a trial date that we can focus on," Judge Sebutinde said."We are of the view that now is the time to fix a trial date that we can focus on," Judge Sebutinde said.
However, Mr Taylor's defence lawyer Karim Khan said he thought he was unlikely to be ready for trial until September 2007 because of the volume of evidence, reports Associated Press news agency. "By the end of February he will have been in jail for over a year and after a year it becomes inordinate delay," she said.
Mr Taylor was sent to The Hague after being arrested in Nigeria earlier this year.
TAYLOR TIMELINE 1989: Launches rebellion1991: RUF rebellion starts in Sierra Leone1995: Peace deal signed1997: Elected president1999: Lurd starts rebellion to oust TaylorJune 2003: Arrest warrant issuedAugust 2003: Steps down, goes into exile in NigeriaMarch 2006: Arrested, sent to Sierra Leone Profile: Charles Taylor TAYLOR TIMELINE 1989: Launches rebellion1991: RUF rebellion starts in Sierra Leone1995: Peace deal signed1997: Elected president1999: Lurd starts rebellion to oust TaylorJune 2003: Arrest warrant issuedAugust 2003: Steps down, goes into exile in NigeriaMarch 2006: Arrested, sent to Sierra Leone Profile: Charles Taylor
But Mr Taylor's defence lawyer Karim Khan said he thought he was unlikely to be ready for trial until September 2007 because of the volume of evidence, reports The Associated Press.
"To rush to judgement, to satisfy public opinion ... is unfair and unnecessary and has the potential for a grave miscarriage of justice," he said.
Mr Taylor, dressed in a charcoal suit and white shirt and chewing gum, did not betray any emotion, reports Reuters news agency.
Mr Taylor was sent to The Hague after being arrested in Nigeria earlier this year.
He has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges of war crimes and faces a life sentence if convicted.He has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges of war crimes and faces a life sentence if convicted.
The United Kingdom has agreed to jail Mr Taylor in the event that he is found guilty.The United Kingdom has agreed to jail Mr Taylor in the event that he is found guilty.
Both Sierra Leone and Liberia are recovering from years of conflict, in which Mr Taylor played a central role.Both Sierra Leone and Liberia are recovering from years of conflict, in which Mr Taylor played a central role.
Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front rebels were notorious for mutilating civilians, by hacking off their arms or legs with machetes.Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front rebels were notorious for mutilating civilians, by hacking off their arms or legs with machetes.