Trial / Charles Taylor

by Alpha Sesay

Mid-Morning Session: Cross-Examination of Expert Witness TF1-358 Continues Mostly in Closed Session

12:00PM; Court resumed and defense counsel Mr. Munyard continued the cross-examination of Expert Witness TF1-358. Counsel continued with the inquiry into the witness’s qualifications as a psychiatrist and then asked that the court be moved into private session for the remainder of the mid-morning session.

Qualifications as a Psychiatrist

Counsel asked the witness about those staff members who assisted him in his institution. The witness said that the staff members also acquired the skills of counselling. He said some of these staff members were doctors and nurses. Defense counsel suggested to the witness that he is not an expert in psychiatric and traumatic injury. The witness disagreed with counsel.  Counsel further said that the witness’s testimony is just an expert evidence in General Practice and not traumatic injury. Counsel asked the witness whether he is in contact with any of the diplomatic missions in Sierra Leone. The witness responded that the missions get in contact with him and not the otherway round.

Defense counsel submitted a US State Department Document that lists the Number of Medical Services in Sierra Leone as prepared by the US Embassy in Sierra Leone. Counsel went through the lists, which privides the names of specialists in each medical field in Sierra Leone. He noted that the witness’s name was not put down for psychiatry, radiology, HIV/AIDs Consultants, surgeons, cardiology, etc. He mentioned that the witness’s name appears only as one out of four General Practiooners in Sierra Leone.

The witness responded that while he is a specialised General Practitioner, he also has expertise in other areas like internal medicine, psychiatry and other fields for which his name was not mentioned.

Counsel asked the witness whether he knew of STF members from Liberia being recruited by the NPRC after the 1992 coup. The witness said he had no such idea.

Counsel applied that the court be moved into private session as the next set of questions would disclose the witness’s identity. Court went into private session for the remainder of the morning session.