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Last Updated: Jul 10, 2008 - 4:22:41 PM |
Reports
Weekly Report on RUF Trial – Summary for the Week of June 23-June 27 2008
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Jul 4, 2008 - 7:41:16 AM
This week brought the case for
Augustine Gbao’s defense to a close, marking the end of the presentation of
evidence by all of the accused. Only one witness was called to the stand, Mr.
Johan Hederstedt, a military expert serving as a common witness for both the
Sesay and Gbao defense teams. Mr. Hederstedt brought the number of witnesses
called by the Gbao defense to a total of eight. Mr. Hederstedt, a retired
general from the Swedish Armed Forces, was asked by the Sesay and Gbao defense teams
to write a report regarding (1) his evaluation of the RUF as a military force
in light of his knowledge of both guerilla movements and conventional armies
and (2) issues of command and control within the RUF arising from that
evaluation.
Reports
Weekly Report on RUF Trial – Summary for the Week of June 16 – June 20, 2008
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Jun 23, 2008 - 4:14:04 PM
The case for the Third Accused, Augustine
Gbao, prepared to draw to a close this week as three more witnesses were called
to the stand. The final remaining witness, an expert, will testify on Monday
and Tuesday of next week. This week was
marked by a prolonged debate about the need to balance the rights of one
accused with those of a co-defendant, as John Cammegh, counsel for the Third
Accused, fought to fully present his client’s defense, which had the potential
to incriminate Morris Kallon, the Second Accused. The first two witnesses this
week spoke of their personal experiences with Gbao punishing RUF misconduct,
while the third witness, who served as Gbao’s driver for an extended period of
time, testified in great detail as to Gbao’s version of the May 1, 2000,
incident that led to the abduction of UNAMSIL personnel.
Reports
Weekly Report on RUF Trial – Summary for the Week of June 9 – June 13, 2008
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Jun 16, 2008 - 7:59:55 PM
This week was rather short on
action for Trial Chamber I as the court adjourned to allow for the Gbao defense
team to get its witnesses, overall strategy and related logistics in order. Court
initially resumed on Monday, June 9, to continue the Prosecution’s
cross-examination of last week’s witness for defense the Third Accused.
However, only one other witness testified this week before the defense asked
for more time and then decided to not call a possible witness, leaving court
out of session from Tuesday afternoon until Monday.
Reports
Weekly Report on RUF Trial- Summary for week of June 2-June 6, 2008
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Jun 10, 2008 - 9:20:27 PM
The defense for the Third
Accused, Augustine Gbao, resumed this week as Trial Chamber I returned from an
extended break taken to allow for a plenary meeting of all the Special Court judges.
Witness testimony during this week focused on Gbao’s status as the overall
Internal Defense Unit (IDU) commander for the RUF, a position the defense
characterized as outside the realm of military planning or fighting. The
defense also worked to portray Gbao as fearful of the fighting, popular among
civilians, and loyal to the ideology of the revolution, which was fought for
the benefit of civilians.
Reports
Appeals Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone Issued Appeals Judgment in the CDF Case
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May 28, 2008 - 8:25:28 PM
The Appeals Chamber of the
Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) before Honourable Justice George Gelaga
King presiding and Raja Fernando, Emmanuel Ayoola, Renate Winter and Jon
Kamanda being the other Justices, on Wednesday 28 May 2008, delivered
its judgment in the appeals case of The Prosecutor against Moinina Fofana and
Allieu Kondewa, former leaders of the Civil Defence forces (CDF).
