The trial of the former Liberian President Charles Taylor was extended on Friday. Additional time was given to the defence to appeal against the judges' decision to decline their final summary of evidence.

Additionally, the court adjourned for two weeks to solve the separate issue of Taylor's lawyer storming out of court last Tuesday.

"The trial chamber will stand over the proceedings until the appeals chamber delivers its verdict," presiding Judge Teresa Doherty said, adjourning the hearing.

Taylor did not appear at the Special Court for Sierra Leone at what was supposed to be the last day for hearing final statements by defence and prosecution.

“Mr. Taylor has waived his right to not appear before the court,” said defence co-counsil Terry Munyard.

Taylor’s lawyer Courtenay Griffiths was at the courtroom, but did not say a word. After walking out of the courtroom on Tuesday, opposing the judges’ decision to not accept his late filing of the final summary of defence evidence, the judges expected him to apologize before the court.

Instead, the defence co-counsel Terry Munyard asked the judges to give the defence team time to find a “properly experienced counsel” for Griffiths and deal with the happenings of this week.

Munyard did not want to specify whether Griffiths will apologize to the court.

Prosecutor Brenda Hollis insisted that this is a “willing and knowing waiver” of the defence to present their evidence at the final stages of the trial.

Munyard insisted that the defence will “do everything to be as expeditious as possible.”

Courtroom drama

Judges at the SCSL decided Monday they will not accept the defence’s final summary of evidence because it was filed 20 days late.

After a heated row with the judges and leaving the courtroom on Tuesday, Griffiths claimed that it is not in his client’s best interest to take part in the closing arguments.

Two hours later, Taylor refused to return to the courtroom after the morning coffee break.

Wednesday morning Taylor and his lawyer did not appear in court. After the hearing, Griffiths told the reporters the defence would not cooperate with the trial, “unless and until these judges are prepared to accept the defence final brief and so be in a position to consider our arguments."

"As far as we are concerned it would be totally illegitimate for us to get involved in this stage," Griffiths told journalists.

He filed a bid Wednesday to appeal against the ruling.

Griffiths insisted the defence will not show up at court today for the final day of the closing statements.

On Wednesday evening, judges issued an order for Taylor’s lawyer to appear before them today. They demanded that Griffiths apologize for walking out of the courtroom, or “the Trial Chamber may impose sanctions” upon him.

Plea: not guilty

Taylor, 62, pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, claiming his trial was based on "lies" and an intelligence conspiracy.

The former Liberian president is accused of arming and controlling the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone during a 10-year campaign of terror.

He denied having received any blood diamonds, and rejected testimony that he had eaten human flesh.
The court's verdict is not expected before the middle of the year.

Charles Taylor is the first African head of state to be tried by an international tribunal.