Roy M. Belfast Jr., also known as Chuckie Taylor, Charles Taylor Jr., Charles Taylor II and Charles McArther Emmanuel, has been ordered to pay over $22 million in damages to five Liberians who were tortured during the country’s civil war.
Taylor Jr. was sentenced to 97 years in prison for crimes related to the torture of people in Liberia between April 1999 and July 2003.
Belfast, who was born in the United States and is the son of the former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor, commanded a paramilitary organization known as the Anti-Terrorist Unit, which was directed to provide protection for the Liberian president and additional dignitaries of the Liberian government. Between 1999 and 2003, in his role as commander of that unit, Belfast and his associates committed numerous and varied forms of torture, including burning victims with molten plastic, lit cigarettes, scalding water, candle wax and an iron; severely beating victims with firearms; cutting and stabbing victims; and shocking victims with an electric device.
Charles Ghankay Taylor, the former President of Liberia, was indicted under seal on 7 March 2003. The indictment was announced on 4 June 2003 on his first trip outside of Liberia. In August 2003 Charles Taylor resigned as president and went into exile in Nigeria. He was transferred to the Special Court on 29 March 2006. Due to concerns about regional security should the trial be held in Sierra Leone, the Special Court arranged for the trial to be held at The Hague in the Netherlands. Charles Taylor was transferred to The Hague on 30 June 2006.
The Prosecution opened their case on 4 June 2007. Charles Taylor boycotted the proceedings and dismissed his legal team. The trial was adjourned unti new counsel could be assigned.
The Prosecution opened witness testimony on 7 January 2008. The Prosecution formally closed their case on 27 February 2009 after having presented testimony from 91 witnesses. On 4 May 2009 the Trial Chamber dismissed in its entirety a Motion for Judgment of Acquittal brought by the Defence. The Defence opened their case on 13 July 2009.
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- Naomi Campbell Facing Subpoena to Charles Taylor Trial Over Diamond; Mia Farrow Subpoenad too
- Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund Statement Over former CEO receipt of Rough Diamonds from Supermodel Naomi Cambell,Allegedly sourced from Liberian President Charles Taylor
- Actress Mia Farrow to testify before UN-backed war crimes trial of former Liberian leader over Blood Diamond Question
- Liberian Presidential Task Force on Diamonds Examining how to Implement Recommendations from Kimberley Process Review Mission Report
