Journal 8 Max Balderson

     In 1989, a rebel group known as the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, led by Charles Taylor, began the First Liberian Civil War. Charles then assumed power, using threats of resuming war, and became the president of Liberia in 1997. During his term, Charles Taylor was accused of committing war crimes. When Charles Taylor's rebel group rose to power,  used multiple highly illegal war tactics in order to gain control of Liberia. Charles was accused 11 different crimes. These crimes include: rape, murder, enslavement, pillaging, acts of terrorism, and other inhumane acts.

Charles Taylor facing trial

     Taylor denied all of theses crimes at his trial. He even made some surprising comparisons trying to clear his name. He explained that his tortures and crimes against humanity were very similar to the acts of president George W. Bush, and in an interview, when asked how he felt that many viewed him as a murderer more than a politician, he states, "Jesus Christ was accused of being a murderer in his time." Charles' defense in court was that he was a peace maker. He was only doing what was necessary to keep Liberia peaceful.

Charles in younger years, with rebel group

      Unfortunately for Taylor, this defense did not hold up in court. The judges found him guilty of every single crime. Taylor was given an 80 year jail sentence, which was later changed to a 50 year sentence. To this day, defense lawyers are trying to get Taylor's jail sentence appealed.
     I used https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/briefing-papers/trial-charles-taylor-special-court-sierra-leone-appeal-judgment and http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-12392062 as my sources for this article.