Sierra Leone Liberia; Taylor's trial: whose agenda? Unless the SCSL Trial Chamber puts its foot down and ensures its orders are immediately obeyed by the Court Registry, the smooth running of Charles Taylor's trial may be in real jeopardy, reports Osei Boateng.

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Feature - Special Court for Sierra Leone

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Sierra Leone Liberia; Taylor's trial: whose agenda? Unless the SCSL Trial Chamber puts its foot down and ensures its orders are immediately obeyed by the Court Registry, the smooth running of Charles Taylor's trial may be in real jeopardy, reports Osei Boateng.

The UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) may have finally handed down its first verdicts in four years of existence, convicting three former rebel leaders of crimes against humanity on 20 June. But its biggest case involving the former president of Liberia, Charles Taylor, appears to be headed for the rocks unless the Trial Chamber puts its feet down and confronts a seemingly recalcitrant Court Registry bent on having its own way.

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On 20 June, the Court found Alex Tamba Brima, 35, Brima Bazzy Kamara, 39, and Santigle Borbor Kanu, 42, guilty on 11 of the 14 charges against them, including the recruitment of child soldiers and forced marriage in an armed conflict. The presiding judge, Julia Sebutinde from Uganda, set 16 July for sentencing. The three men were, however, acquitted on one count of sexual slavery and two counts of inhuman acts...

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