Taylor's lawyer storms out of war crimes trial in protest at 'a farce'

Taylor, the first African ruler to stand trial for war crimes, is charged with instigating murder, rape, mutilation, sexual slavery and conscription of child soldiers during a brutal civil war in Sierra Leone. He denies the charges.

British defence lawyer Courtenay Griffiths stormed out after judges at the Special Court for Sierra Leone ruled on Monday against allowing the defence to file a final 600-page document because they had missed a 14 January deadline to submit it. Presiding judge Teresa Doherty warned Mr Griffiths he risked being found in contempt.

"Our presence in court is incompatible in representing the interests of the accused," Mr Griffiths said, telling reporters outside the court that the situation was "a complete farce".

The shock exit, a reminder of when Taylor refused to attend the start of his trial in June 2007, cast a shadow over the hearing, but prosecutors were allowed to present their closing arguments in a case that has lasted more than three years.

If convicted, Taylor's sentence would be at the discretion of the judges, but the court previously has handed down terms of 15 to 52 years, a court spokesman said.

Prosecutor Brenda Hollis described Taylor as man with "insatiable greed for wealth and power" who had portrayed himself as a victim of an international conspiracy.

Citing testimony from a man whose brother's ten fingers were cut off before he was shot and killed, Ms Hollis said this was testimony from a real victim of "killers who knew no restraint".

"The accused is rightly before you as the man most responsible for the crimes with which he is charged. The evidence proves beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Taylor is guilty of those crimes," Ms Hollis said.

Prosecutors accuse Taylor of directing Revolutionary United Front rebels in a campaign of terror against civilians in Sierra Leone, pocketing "blood diamonds" for profit or to buy weapons.

But they spoke to an empty dock for much of yesterday. After Mr Griffiths walked out, Taylor had remained in court, but he did not reappear after the morning break.

A court-appointed defence representative told judges Taylor was upset, needed some rest and had voluntarily absented himself from the hearing.

Mr Griffiths has questioned the Sierra Leone court's impartiality, citing leaked US diplomatic cables.

In one cable, US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield wrote that if Taylor was acquitted or given a light sentence, his return to Liberia could "tip the balance in a fragile peace".

But Justice Richard Lussick said yesterday: "If Taylor thinks he can disobey orders at will, then he is running this court, not us."