Taylor complains about security measures, Special Court rules in favor of defense

Yesterday Charles Taylor’s trial resumed at the Special Court for Sierra Leone after a month-long recess. But Taylor was not present.

Due to circumstances involving an International Criminal Court detainee, the threat level at the Court has been raised from medium to high. As a result, there were procedural changes that affect how Taylor is transported to the court. Taylor objects to two of these measures, and here I quote from a summary from The Trial of Charles Taylor blog:

1. During the transport certain measures cause him sensory deprivation (on request of Taylor Griffiths [Taylor's lead lawyer] did not go into detail here).
2. During the transport Taylor will be chained around his waist, leading him to feel like a leashed animal, which he finds particularly degrading.

Griffiths said that to the public it may appear that Taylor poses a threat.

The prosecution said that Taylor had waived his right to appear in court, and that the trial should go on without him.

The judges conferred for 40 minutes. They ruled that:

The trial proceedings hitherto have been very smoothly and Taylor has conducted himself very reasonably. The upgrading of the level of security is due to factors non relating to his behaviour. Proceedings would not continue well without the benefit of instruction of the accused. It appears the matter would be capable of a resolution. The Registrar is asked directly to investigate the situation with an urge to resolve and report to this Court at 9.30 a.m. tomorrow. Subsequently Court is adjourned at 10.45 a.m. until tomorrow 9.30 a.m.

A brief summary of this appeared in the New York Times today.