Justice Sow’s Statement/Dissent at the Charles Taylor Judgment
Charles Taylor (Photo: Reuters/Jerry Lampen)
At the conclusion of the delivery of the oral Charles Taylor Judgment yesterday 26 April, Alternate Judge Malick Sow of Senegal attempted to voice his dissenting opinion. As an Alternate Judge he does not have a vote, nor a right to dissent, but sought to publicly state his concerns that the evidence against Mr. Taylor did not reach the threshold necessary for conviction. As Justice Lussick, Justice Doherty and Justice Sebutinde rose and prepared to leave the court at the conclusion of the verdict, Justice Sow said:
“The only moment where a Judge can express his opinion is during deliberations or in the courtroom, and pursuant to the Rules, when there is no deliberations, the only place left for me in the courtroom. I won’t get — because I think we have been sitting for too long but for me I have my dissenting opinion and I disagree with the findings and conclusions of the other Judges, because for me under any mode of liability, under any accepted standard of proof the guilt of the accused from the evidence provided in this trial is not proved beyond reasonable doubt by the Prosecution. And my only worry is that the whole system is not consistent with all the principles we know and love, and the system is not consistent with all the values of international criminal justice, and I’m afraid the whole system is under grave danger of just losing all credibility, and I’m afraid this whole thing is headed for failure. Thank you for your attention.”
As Justice Sow made this statement, the other three Judges walked out of the room, while the court technicians cut off an in-house video feed to reporters, turned off the Judge’s microphone and closed the public gallery.
Mr. Taylor’s Lead Defence Counsel Courtenay Griffiths Q.C. expressed his concern as to the SCSL’s treatment of Judge Sow, later quoting from the Judge’s speech at a press conference.
The verdict against Mr. Taylor is a total nonsense and a disgrace to International Justice. Many of the Judges were brought by some powerful countries from the beginning of this fake case. Whatever is done in darkness will one day comes to light. My request to the International Community is “Now that this so-called Justice have come for the People of Sierra Leonne, when will Justice prevail for the people of Liberia”.
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We all know that the verdict against Mr. Taylor was decided a day before his indictment. There was no way he could have gotten a fair trial. Thanks to lead counsel Griffiths and his team. We also have people to indict too. war came out of Guinea and Sierra Leone that destroyed Liberians lives and property. ULIMO and LURD. Those governments have to shoulder the responsibilities of the consequences of their actions.
Even the United States and Britain will have to say what went wrong in Iraq, Libya and many other countries. We do not need selective “international justice”.
Taylor for evidence is a free man but for the powers to be is a criminal.
But truth however crushed to the ground shall rise! Judge Sow’s dissenting view will one day be heard!!
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This is a shame on the west.. even the blind man can see that the man is not responsible for what they want to sentence him for. i rather you guys open a court for Liberia so that we can have the real justice with all these people that still serve in government positions who killed our parents during the civil war.. yet we pay taxes and they live well to tell them things for killing our people in Liberia, so you all can do it at any time again…
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Shame on the international community!!! The verdict was prejudiced. I am sorry that Mr. Taylor had to waste 5 years of his life going through a stage trial. They should have just sentenced him from the beginning and all of the money used by both prosecution and defence be given to the poor victims of Sierra Leon and Liberia. Why was Justice Sow not granted the opportunity to speak to the press? Do you know how many wars that the west has aided and abetted? Are you sure this is about humanbeing? I think it is more about the diamonds! Africa better come together and see what really is happening. Look at what they did to Iraq and Libya, uprising and rebellions fine once the America is going to buy the oil from the rebels. Bravo but the table will turn one of these days.
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God’s willing you will come back Sir… Let the true justice be done to all men…
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All too often Western infuence leaves in its wake moral,spiritual, environmental and relational decay.Charles Taylor, Gadaffi and Sadam are not to be thought of as Saints, but if truth be told each of them tried to stand up to Western arrogance racism and imperialism, albeit with warped identity crises in themselves.Justice Sow stands today as a potent symbol for this cause, unlike the dictators mentioned, he is also a man of great intellect, integrity and wisdom.This is why they tried to silence his voice.God is great what can be seen lasts a while, what cannot be seen lasts forever 2 Corrinthians 4 v18.Even Christ was persecuted and denied justice in this world, but He calls all who love God to a world beyond the decay and decadence of this terminal kingdom of darkness.May God smile on you and remind you of a justice and peace beyond the reach of the wicked in which I pray all your questions will be answered and where we will find rest.Amen
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