Court upholds ex-liberian president Taylor's war crimes conviction

The conviction and sentence of ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sierra Leone's civil war was upheld Thursday. "Appeals Chamber upholds Charles Taylor's sentence and 50 year conviction imposed by the Trial Chamber," The Special Court for Sierra Leone posted Thursday on its Twitter page. A unanimous court found Taylor guilty in April 2012 on all counts of an 11-count indictment alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in atrocities committed in Sierra Leone during its civil war in the 1990s, the special court based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, said in a release. He was sentenced in May 2012. The defense appealed, arguing the trial court erred in weighing the evidence and applying the law. The defense also argued the 50-year sentence was "manifestly unreasonable." The prosecution said Taylor should have been found individually criminally responsible for ordering and instigating crimes committed by rebels in Sierra Leone. Prosecutors also said the sentence was not "reflective of the inherent gravity of the totality of his criminal conduct and overall culpability" and should be increased to 80 years.