Taylor Trial Information Session

I went to a public event today in Monrovia for the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, the one that's soon going to be trying Charles Taylor in the Hague. Representatives of the court are doing a tour to inform the public about what's happening, and to dispel some of the common myths about the trial.

The trial starts on June 4th, 2007, and will last approximately 18 months. Verdicts expected in mid-2009. The witness list is 139 names long. Taylor is being tried as an individual, not as a government official. The allegations cover only events that occurred in Sierra Leone. No other Liberians will be indicted or tried at this stage.

Funny moment: After the Chief Prosecutor introduced himself, the Liberian English translator cracked everyone up by identifying him as, "the man da can put Charles Taylor inside."