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| Taylor's son jailed for 97 years | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| "Chuckie" Taylor, the son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor has been sentenced by a US court to 97 years in prison for committing torture. | |
| The case has been the first test of a 1994 US law allowing the prosecution of citizens who commit torture overseas. | |
| Chuckie Taylor, 31, headed a notorious paramilitary unit while his father's government was battling rebels. | Chuckie Taylor, 31, headed a notorious paramilitary unit while his father's government was battling rebels. |
| Charles Taylor is on trial at a court in The Hague - he denies 11 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. | Charles Taylor is on trial at a court in The Hague - he denies 11 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. |
| Torturing group | Torturing group |
| The prosecution had urged that Chuckie Taylor be sentenced to 147 years in prison, while defence lawyers sought leniency. | |
| He was born in the US but after his father won Liberia's 1997 elections, he moved to the country and was made the head of the notorious Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU) while in his early 20s.Charles Taylor Snr faces war crimes charges in The Hague | He was born in the US but after his father won Liberia's 1997 elections, he moved to the country and was made the head of the notorious Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU) while in his early 20s.Charles Taylor Snr faces war crimes charges in The Hague |
| This elite pro-government military division was widely feared in Liberia and the crimes were especially brutal when the unit was cracking down on a rebellion which began in 1999. | This elite pro-government military division was widely feared in Liberia and the crimes were especially brutal when the unit was cracking down on a rebellion which began in 1999. |
| At his trial in October 2008, Chuckie Taylor was accused of committing or conspiring to commit executions, imprisoning a group of individuals in a hole in the ground, burning victims and administering electric shocks. | At his trial in October 2008, Chuckie Taylor was accused of committing or conspiring to commit executions, imprisoning a group of individuals in a hole in the ground, burning victims and administering electric shocks. |
| The Miami jury made a direct link between some incidents of torture and the defendant. | The Miami jury made a direct link between some incidents of torture and the defendant. |
| Milestone for justice | Milestone for justice |
| Defence lawyers had said many of the witnesses lied in a bid to win political asylum in the US or to settle political vendettas. | Defence lawyers had said many of the witnesses lied in a bid to win political asylum in the US or to settle political vendettas. |
| Human Rights Watch, the US-based watchdog, described the verdict as a milestone for ensuring justice for atrocities. Torture is one of the gravest crimes, and the sentence should reflect its seriousness Elise KepplerHuman Rights Watch | Human Rights Watch, the US-based watchdog, described the verdict as a milestone for ensuring justice for atrocities. Torture is one of the gravest crimes, and the sentence should reflect its seriousness Elise KepplerHuman Rights Watch |
| "Chuckie Taylor's prosecution is an important step in ensuring the United States is not a safe haven for human rights abusers," said Elise Keppler, senior counsel for Human Rights Watch's International Justice Programme, prior to the announcement of Chuckie Taylor's prison term. | |
| "Torture is one of the gravest crimes, and the sentence should reflect its seriousness." | "Torture is one of the gravest crimes, and the sentence should reflect its seriousness." |
| A Liberian minister told the BBC the verdict sent a message that nobody - regardless of how powerful they were - could get away with unspeakable crimes. | A Liberian minister told the BBC the verdict sent a message that nobody - regardless of how powerful they were - could get away with unspeakable crimes. |
| Liberia is currently trying to recover from 14 years of conflict. | Liberia is currently trying to recover from 14 years of conflict. |
| At nationwide hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, victims are recounting the heinous crimes that tore the country apart. | At nationwide hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, victims are recounting the heinous crimes that tore the country apart. |
| Charles Taylor denies the charges he backed brutal rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone. | Charles Taylor denies the charges he backed brutal rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone. |
| He stepped down in 2003, as rebels advanced on the capital Monrovia. | He stepped down in 2003, as rebels advanced on the capital Monrovia. |