Taylor guilty of war crimes
An inquest has heard how scientists cannot rule out if spy Gareth Williams was poisoned before being dumped in a bag. It's because it took MI6 a week to realise he was missing.
Latest ITV News reports
Tony Blair 'proud' of UK role in Sierra Leone
Charles Tayor asked to stand for the verdict
Charles Tayor has been asked to stand for the verdict
Taylor found guilty of some war crimes
A UN-backed Sierra Leone court has convicted former Liberian president Charles Taylor of war crimes.
Taylor was charged with murder, rape, conscripting child soldiers and sexual slavery during intertwined wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone, in which more than 50,000 people were killed.
The court found him guilty of only some of the charges.
Advertisement
'Taylor aided and abetted rebel group'
by Martin Geissler - ITV News CorrespondentCharles Taylor has been found guilty of aiding and abetting the RUF rebels in Sierra Leone.
'Taylor provided support to rebel group'
by Martin Geissler - ITV News CorrespondentThe court has found that Charles Taylor provided material support to the RUF rebel group, including arms, ammunition and personnel. This was in exchange for the commissioning of crimes.
But the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Taylor was individually responsible for some of the crimes.
Charles Taylor guilty of war crimes
The court has ruled that Charles Taylor is guilty of war crimes in Sierra Leone - Reuters
No evidence Taylor was 'part of rebel chain of command'
The judge says that although there is evidence that Foday Sankoh, the leader of the rebel group Revolutionary United Front (RUF), ordered his officials to take orders from Charles Taylor, there is no evidence this happened.
The court found that although the relationship between the RUF and Mr Taylor was close, there is no evidence that he was part of the RUF chain of command.
Advertisement
'Taylor secretly fuelling conflict during peace process'
by Martin Geissler - ITV News CorrespondentThe judge said that Charles Taylor was secretly fuelling the conflict between rebel groups and the government while pretending to support the peace negotiations.
'Taylor received blood diamonds in exchange for arms'
by Martin Geissler - ITV News CorrespondentThe judge is describing "a continuous supply of diamonds [from rebel groups] mined in Sierra Leone to the accused [Charles Taylor], often in exchange for arms and ammunition".
The arms and ammunition Mr Taylor provided were "indispensable" to rebel groups.
Taylor provided 'sustained and persistent' support to rebels
by Martin Geissler - ITV News CorrespondentThe judge has said that Charles Taylor provided "sustained and persistent" support to rebel groups in Sierra Leone during the civil war.
The support included food, financial support, arms and the provision of "herbalists" to drug child soldiers in preparation for conflict.
Court summarising Charles Taylor's role in crimes
by Martin Geissler - ITV News CorrespondentThe Special Court for Sierra Leone sitting in The Hague has found that the alleged crimes were committed in Sierra Leone. It is now dealing with Charles Taylor's role in the crimes.
So far the lead justice has ruled that the prosecution failed to prove Charles Taylor's role in crimes prior to the indictment period.