NETHERLANDS: Former Liberian President Charles Taylor is sentenced to 50 years in prison by an international court for backing Sierra Leonean rebels in their war of murder, rape and mutilation

Record ID: 860755

  • Title: NETHERLANDS: Former Liberian President Charles Taylor is sentenced to 50 years in prison by an international court for backing Sierra Leonean rebels in their war of murder, rape and mutilation
  • Date: 31st May 2012
  • Summary: THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (MAY 30, 2012) (REUTERS) COURT EXTERIORS VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS OUTSIDE COURT VIDEO CAMERA SET UP VARIOUS OF MEDIA GATHERED OUTSIDE COURT VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF SIERRA LEONE COMMUNITY IN NETHERLANDS PROTESTING OUTSIDE CALLING FOR MAXIMUM SENTENCE
  • Embargoed: 15th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Netherlands
  • City:
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVA55NKQZFR1231ZJAZ9O1O6SL06
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Judges in The Hague sentenced former Liberian President Charles Taylor to 50 years in prison on Wednesday (May 30).
    Taylor, 64, the first head of state convicted by an international court since World War Two, had been found guilty of backing rebels who murdered, raped and mutilated tens of thousands of people in an 11-year war that ended in 2002.
    "Mr Taylor, for the forgoing reasons, the trial chamber unanimously sentences you to a single term of imprisonment of 50 years for all of the counts on which you've been found guilty," presiding judge Richard Lussick said.
    The Special Court for Sierra Leone ruled last month that Taylor aided and abetted Revolutionary United Front rebels during an 11-year war which left 50,000 dead in Liberia's West African neighbour by 2002.
    The rebels raped and murdered civilians, hacked off the limbs of thousands of people in a campaign of terror while Taylor profited from trading in so-called blood diamonds that helped finance the conflict.
    The court's judges said Taylor knew about the brutality and had nonetheless helped equip and fund the rebels, giving them satellite phones and money.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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