Former Liberian Warlord, Charles Taylor Found Guilty of War Crimes
After five years of trial that included grisly testimony from victims who had limbs amputated, former colleagues and even fashion supermodel Naomi Campbell, African warlord Charles Taylor was convicted today for his role in the atrocities committed in Sierra Leone including mass murder, sexual slavery and the use of child soldiers.
Taylor was found guilty by the U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone on all 11 charges for “aiding and abetting” crimes against the people of the African nation committed by militant groups in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The original indictment filed against Taylor detailed specific crimes conducted by Taylor’s subordinates including “conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups” and multiple instances of mass rape and sexual abuse. Taylor’s defense had argued that though the atrocities certainly did take place, there was only circumstantial evidence linking Taylor directly to the acts.
Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced next month, but he’s likely to appeal the ruling.