Witness Inconsistencies Hurt Defense Case
By Mae Azango, New Narratives/Front Page Africa Justice Correspondent
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – After nearly three months the West African portion of the groundbreaking war crimes trial of Gibril Massaquoi by a Finnish court has come to an end. The four judge panel, prosecution and defense lawyers wrapped up their work in Freetown on Tuesday after hearing from 19 defense witnesses here.
In the final days of the trial the case has come down to two crucial points: Could Mr. Massaquoi have left the safe house where he was under witness protection in Freetown as part of his role informing to the Special Court for Sierra Leone long enough to travel to Liberia to commit the 2003 war crimes he’s accused of? And were there other combatants using the alias “Angel Gabriel” who could have committed the alleged war crimes?
Court Hears Testimony that Massaquoi Was Not in Liberia with the RUF
Court Hears Testimony that Massaquoi Was Not in Liberia with the RUF
Share
The four judge panel from Finland hearing the case against Gibril Massaquoi Leslie Lumeh/New Narratives
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – A defense witness in the war crimes trial of Gibril Massaquoi told the Finnish court holding hearings here that he fought with the Revolutionary United Front in Lofa County in 2001 but Massaquoi was not with them.
Report by
Mae Azango, New Narratives Justice correspondent
The witness, codenamed “11” to protect him from intimidation, was a radio operator for RUF leader Foday Sankoh’s station called Secret Signal Broadcasting (SSB). He said he met Massaquoi in 1999 when they were all in the RUF together.
Liberia: Finnish Judges Hear Massaquoi Tortured Man
Liberia: Finnish Judges Hear Massaquoi Tortured Man
Share
Four Finnish judges listen to testimony in the Liberian hearings in the trial of Gibril Massaquoi Leslie Lumeh/New Narratives
MONROVIA – A witness has told the Finnish court conducting the trial of Gibril Massaquoi that the former rebel commander tortured him while he was imprisoned in 2002.
“They tortured me, [tied] me until the rope entered my flesh and electrocuted my penis,” the victim identified as “GJRP 1” told the court on Wednesday as he showed the scars on his elbow. “If I hadn’t taken treatment in the United States, I would have been impotent.”
Liberia: Emotional Witness Tells War Crimes Court Gibril Massaquoi Burned People Alive
Liberia: Emotional Witness Tells War Crimes Court Gibril Massaquoi Burned People Alive
Share
The four-judge panel from Finland listens to testimony in Liberia in the trial of Gibril Massaquoi Leslie Lumeh/New Narratives
MONROVIA It was an emotional day in the war crimes trial of Gibril Massaquoi as one of the witnesses broke down in tears as he described the day he said fighters under Massaquoi’s command locked 75 people in a kitchen and set them ablaze in 2001 in Kiatanhun in Lofa County.
By Joaquin Sendolo with New Narratives