Last updated 9 October 2008
Selected Events from: 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006
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30 September 2008: Defendant Charles Taylor absent from proecedings due to observance of the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah.
2 September 2008: The Special Court for Sierra Leone informs the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia that any request for an audience with Charles Taylor would have to comply with the “Practice Direction on the procedure following a request by a State, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, or other legitimate authority to take a statement from a person in the custody of the Special Court for Sierra Leone,” adopted by the Special Court on 9 September 2003 and amended on 4 October 2003.
1 September 2008: The Special Court for Sierra Leone receives a request from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia for an audience with former President of Liberia Charles Taylor.
5 August 2008: Closing arguments conclude in the RUF case.
24 June 2008: Witness testimony in the case of RUF case concludes. No further witness testimony will be given at the Court in Freetown.
30 May 2008: Justice Jon Kamanda Elected Vice President of Special Court.
29 May 2008: Justice Renate Winter Elected President of Special Court.
28 May 2008: Appeals Chamber overturns convictions of both AFRC accused on the collective punishments charge as well as Kondewa’s conviction for the use of child soldiers. At the same time, the Appeals Chamber enters new convictions against both Fofana and Kondewa for the crimes against humanity of murder and other inhumane acts. The Appeals Chamber also enhanced the sentences against the both accused, meaning Fofana will serve 15 years and Kondewa will serve 20 years.
6 March 2008: In the RUF case, Trial Chamber I denies Defence motion for an order to the Prosecution to clarify and specify the scope of its case regarding RUF involvement in the Freetown invasion on January 6, 1999.
27 February 2008: In the Taylor case, Trial Chamber II denies confidential Prosecution motions SCSL-03-01-T-372 and SCSL-03-01-T-385 for the testimonies of witnesses to be held in closed session.
25 February 2008: Trial Chamber I grants the Prosecution’s application for leave to appeal decision on the Sesay Defence motion requesting the lifting of protective measures in respect of certain Prosecution witnesses.
22 February 2008: Special Court Prosecutor Stephen Rapp commends the judgment of the Appeals Chamber upholding the Trial Chamber convictions of the three AFRC Defendants for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
22 February 2008: In the AFRC case, the Appeals Chamber upheld the sentences of Alex Tamba Brima (fifty years), Brima Bazzy Kamara (forty-five years), and Santigie Borbor Kanu (fifty years).
20-21 February 2008: The Special Court convenes an international conference to consider “residual issues” facing the court when it closes down, such as the enforcement of sentences, how requests for a review of judgment would be handled, and witness protection.
24 January 2008: In the RUF case, Trial Chamber I dismisses the Defence’s appeal against the Court’s decision dismissing Sesay and Gbao’s Motion for Voluntary Withdrawal or Disqualification of Hon. Justice Bankole Thompson.
21 January 2008: In the CDF case, the Appeals Chamber denies the Request of Human Rights Watch for Leave to Appear as Amicus Curiae in the Prosecution Appeal against the Judgment and Sentencing Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa.
7 January 2008: In the Taylor case, trail resumes in The Hague.
7 November 2007: Justice Jon Kamanda is sworn in as Appeals Judge
9 October 2007: In the CDF case, the Court issues sentencing judgments. Moinina Fofana, who is convicted on four counts, is to serve six years, and Allieu Kondewa, who is convicted on five counts, is to serve an eight-year sentence. Both are to be given credit for time served since being taken into custody on May 29, 2003.
2 August 2007: In the CDF case, the Court issues its judgment. Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa are each convicted on courts of murder, cruel treatment, pillage and collective punishments. Kondewa is also convicted on one count of recruitment of child combatants under the age of 15.
20 July 2007: The Secretary General of the United Nations appoints Herman von Hebel as Registrar of the Court. Mr. von Hebel has served as Deputy Registrar of the Court since July 2006. He in turn names Binta Mansaray to succeed him as Deputy Registrar.
19 July 2007: In the AFRC case, the Court hands down its first sentences to former members of Sierra Leone's Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) Alex Tamba Brima ("Gullit"), Brima Bazzy Kamara, and Santigie Borbor Kanu ("Fiver-Five"). Brima and Kanu are sentenced to fifty years in prison and Kamara to forty-five years; all will receive credit for the time they were detained pending trial.
5 July 2007: Justice Benjamin Mutanga Itoe (Cameroon) is elected to a one-year term as Presiding Judge of Trial Chamber I. He succeeds Justice Bankole Thompson (Sierra Leone).
25 June 2007: In the Taylor case, Charles Taylor’s trial resumes. The defendant again refuses to appear, prompting the Court to rule that his failure to show constitutes a boycott and thus the defendant may not represent himself in the proceedings.
20 June 2007: In the AFRC case, Alex Tamba Brima, Brima Bazzy Kamara and Santigie Borbor Kanu are convicted on 11 of 14 counts, including murder, rape and enlisting child soldiers. The judgment is the first to be handed down at the SCSL, and it marks the first time that an international court or tribunal has ruled on the charge of recruitment of child soldiers into an armed force, and on the crime of forced marriage in an armed conflict.
4 June 2007: In the Taylor case, the trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor begins with opening arguments. Taylor boycots the processdings and his assigned attorney walks out of the courtroom, claiming that Taylor has fired him and wishes to act as his own attorney.
17 May 2007: Justice George Gelaga King (Sierra Leone) is re-elected Presiding Judge of the Appeals Chamber.
4 May 2007: Justice El Hadji Malick Sow (Senegal) is sworn in as an alternate Judge of the Special Court’s Trial Chamber.
3 May 2007: In the RUF case, the defense case opens.
19 March 2007: Herman Von Hebel is appointed Acting Registrar, replacing Lovemore Munlo.
22 February 2007: In the CDF case, former Sierra Leone Internal Affairs Minister Sam Hinga Norman Dies in Dakar, Senegal, while recovering from “routine” medical procedures performed on February 8.
23 January 2007: In the Taylor case, in response to a Defense request the Court decides that trial will be postponed until June 4, 2007.
17 January 2007: In the CDF and RUF cases, Sam Hinga Norman and Issa Sesay are flown to Dakar, Senegal, for undisclosed medical treatment.
