The Hague - Presiding Judge Julia Sebutine suspended the trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor on Monday after prolonged negotiations about his defence. Taylor himself once again did not appear at the morning's hearing, the second day of the trial after its official start on June 4.
Three weeks ago, Taylor also stayed away from the trial held by the Special Court of Sierra Leone (SCSL). For security reasons, the trial is taking place at the premises of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Principal defender Vincent Nmehielle says Taylor, who is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, wants a better defence lawyer. He is demanding a top lawyer from Britain or another Commonwealth country, supported by "international investigators" of "Scotland Yard or CIA calibre."
Nmehielle is responsible for supervising proper court procedures and the rights of the defendant.
Taylor, who does not have any financial resources and therefore qualifies for subsidized legal representation, received a list of legal aid lawyers in early June.
But Nmehielle says none of the lawyers appeared suitable to Taylor. Sebutinde remarked she thought that was "strange" because other suspects who also appeared before the SCSL did make use of the services of these lawyers.
SCSL prosecutor Brenda Hollis said that the judges should undo Taylor's discharge of his private lawyer Karim Khan, a suggestion also made previously by Hollis' boss, chief prosecutor Stephen Rapp.
Hollis also suggested that the court orders Taylor to be present at his trial. The ex-president remained in his detention cell in The Hague. Hollis pointed out suspects have the right to be present at their trial, but not "the right to be absent."
