Taylor witness list excessive
2009-07-06 15:50
The Hague - Prosecutors at a UN-backed court for Sierra Leone say the trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor could take up to four more years if his lawyers call all their witnesses.
Taylor is due to begin his defence case next week answering 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sierra Leone.
Prosecution trial lawyer Brenda Hollis said at a hearing on Monday that Taylor's lawyers have lined up an "excessive" list of 256 potential witnesses to testify.
The defence lawyers are not expected to call all the witnesses to testify.
His lead attorney Courtenay Griffiths said prosecutors listed some 200 witnesses and called 91.
Griffiths told judges he has "no intention of being here another four years."
- SAPA