STAR radio Liberia - Taylor absent from court, Chuckie's trial commences

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Taylor absent from court, Chuckie's trial commences

Written by Wellington Geevon Smith

Wednesday, 01 October 2008

Report from The Hague says detained former President Charles Taylor is absent from his war crimes trial Tuesday, not for security measures this time.

Taylor’s lawyer, Morris Anyah told the court the detained former Liberian President is absent from court for religious reason.

According to Anyah, Mr. Taylor is a member of the Jewish Faith and is observing the Jewish Religious Holiday called Rosh Hashanah.

Mr. Anyah however, said Mr. Taylor gave his consent for the trial to continue in his absence.

The Rosh Hashanah is the most important of the Jewish Holy Days, which calls for prayers, mediation, soul-searching and acts of repentance in the Synagogue and homes.

Taylor’s observance of the Jewish Faith comes as a surprise to many Liberians because the former President was a Baptist and a Deacon in the Church.

His critics say Mr. Taylor is seeking sympathy from the Jews to help soften the ground for him with the Americans.

Meanwhile, the trial of Chuckie Taylor, son of the former President, has formally started in the American State of Florida.

During the opening of the trial, both prosecution and defense briefly put forward their views of the case.

The prosecution indicated they will present victims who will testify that Chuckie Taylor committed torture in Liberia when his father was in power.

Prosecution said Chuckie committed torture including beheading and sodomizing of individuals, the shocking of victims with an electrical device and the cutting of individuals' genitals.

For his part, Chuckie’s lawyer argued that the prosecution's case rests on witnesses who are not credible because they have an incentive to testify.

The defense said there will be Liberians who want to testify against Chuckie, simply to justify their asylum request in the United States.

Chuckie’s lawyer showed video of Liberia that conditions in the country are so difficult for which witnesses would fabricate allegations if it might result in assistance.

Report says jury hearing the case will need to decide the credibility of the testimony and whether the prosecution's charges have been proven beyond reasonable doubt.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch has described the trial of Chuckie Taylor as an important moment for the United States and Liberia.

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