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Court to Rule in Sierra Leone War Crimes Appeal Court Upholds 50-Year Jail Term in Sierra Leone War Crimes Case
(about 2 hours later)
PARIS — An international court in The Hague was preparing to rule on Thursday on an appeal by Charles G. Taylor, the former president of Liberia, against a 50-year sentence imposed last year in a case that had been cast as a watershed for modern human rights law. PARIS — A panel of appeals judges upheld a 50-year jail sentence on Thursday against Charles G. Taylor, the former president of Liberia, on charges of commiting war crimes and crimes against humanity in a case that had been cast as a watershed for modern human rights law.
Mr. Taylor was found guilty in April 2012 on all counts of an 11-count indictment alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity relating to his role in atrocities committed in Sierra Leone during its civil war in the 1990s. After a lengthy summimng-up of appeals by both the defense and the prosecution, the judges ruled that his sentencing had been “fair and reasonable,” rejecting a prosecution appeal for his jail term to be extended to 80 years.
Mr. Taylor was found guilty in April 2012 on all counts of an 11-count indictment alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity relating to his role in aiding murderous rebels who committed atrocities in Sierra Leone during its civil war in the 1990s.
He was accused of fomenting widespread brutality that included murder, rape, the use of child soldiers, the mutilation of thousands of civilians and the mining of diamonds to pay for guns and ammunition.He was accused of fomenting widespread brutality that included murder, rape, the use of child soldiers, the mutilation of thousands of civilians and the mining of diamonds to pay for guns and ammunition.
In May 2012 he was sentenced to 50 years in prison — the first former head of state convicted by an international tribunal since the Nuremberg trials in Germany after World War II.In May 2012 he was sentenced to 50 years in prison — the first former head of state convicted by an international tribunal since the Nuremberg trials in Germany after World War II.
The defense appealed against the verdict and sentence on 42 grounds, arguing that the Special Court on Sierra Leone had made “systematic errors in the evaluation of evidence and in the application of law” sufficiently serious to “reverse all findings of guilt entered against him,” the United Nations-backed tribunal said in a statement summing up the case. Defense lawyers also argued that the sentence was “manifestly unreasonable.” The defense had appealed against the verdict and sentence on 42 grounds, arguing that the Special Court on Sierra Leone had made “systematic errors in the evaluation of evidence and in the application of law” sufficiently serious to “reverse all findings of guilt entered against him,” the United Nations-backed tribunal said in a statement summing up the case. Defense lawyers also argued that the sentence was “manifestly unreasonable.”
For its part, the prosecution said the sentence was not “reflective of the inherent gravity of the totality of his criminal conduct and overall culpability” and should be increased to 80 years.For its part, the prosecution said the sentence was not “reflective of the inherent gravity of the totality of his criminal conduct and overall culpability” and should be increased to 80 years.
But after a detailed review of their findings, read out to the court, the panel upheld the bulk of the conclusions drawn by judges at his trial which lasted from 2007 to 2011. Dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and pale gold tie, Mr. Taylor sat impassively through the 90-minute hearing that confirmed his sentence.
By previous agreement, Mr. Taylor, 65, will serve his sentence in a British maximum security prison where, given his age, he will likely spend the rest of his life.
During weeks of testimony, Mr. Taylor said he had heard about atrocities in Sierra Leone but that he would “never, ever” have permitted them.During weeks of testimony, Mr. Taylor said he had heard about atrocities in Sierra Leone but that he would “never, ever” have permitted them.
If the sentence is upheld or extended it will mean that Mr. Taylor, 65, will likely spend the rest of his life in prison. But the presiding judge at the appeals hearing on Thursday, George Gelaga King, said Mr. Taylor had been fully aware of the crimes being committed by rebel groups he advised and encouraged.
“Their primary purpose was to spread terror. Brutal violence was purposely unleashed against civilians with the purpose of making them afraid, afraid that there would be more violence if they continued to resist,” Judge King said.

Marlise Simons reported from Paris, and Alan Cowell from London.

Marlise Simons reported from Paris, and Alan Cowell from London.