Charles Taylor the former President of Liberia will most likely spend his remaining years in jail. A U.N. supported court sentenced the former leader to 50 years behind bars for war crimes. Taylor becomes the first former leader to be found guilty by an international court for war crimes, since Nazi leaders were convicted at the Nuremburg trials following the end of World War II.
Taylor received his conviction for helping to plan war crimes with the rebels of the Revolutionary United Front in Sierra Leone. He traded arms with the rebels in exchange for blood diamonds. Their reign of terror lasted from 1991 to 2002 and the rebels were known to rape women and young girls, amputate limbs, recruit and use soldiers who were children and force women and girls to become sexual slaves.
Last month Taylor was found guilty on 11 counts. The counts included murder, rape, terrorism, sexual slavery, contracting child soldiers, pillage and enslavement. He time behind bars will be served in Britain. The sentencing Judge, Richard Lussick said the ex-leader never set one foot in Sierra Leone however, he left a tragic footprint there.
The judge said that while these types of convictions, usually warranted sentences that were less that other crimes, it was not the case in this situation. The judge said Taylor’s leadership role put him into a class all alone.
Even though he received a 50-year sentence, prosecutors had asked for 80 years. Taylor’s lawyers said the sentence meant the ex-leader would most likely die while imprisoned and they plan to appeal on the grounds the sentence was too excessive.
