Witness History Charles Taylor and the blood diamond trial
Feb 26, 2026
Brenda Hollis, the international prosecutor who led the case against Charles Taylor, shares her work building the trial. She discusses assembling evidence, witness accounts of rape, mutilation and child soldiers, and the legal challenge of linking Taylor to crimes from afar. She also describes the blood diamond links and the high-profile testimonies that drew global attention.
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Commander Declared Himself God During Atrocities
- Brenda Hollis recalled a witness praying while villagers were lined up to be dismembered and a commander's reply that God did not exist.
- The commander said, God there is no God. I'm God here today, illustrating rebel brutality and dehumanisation.
Systematic Sexual Violence And Mutilation In Sierra Leone
- The Sierra Leone conflict featured systematic sexual violence and mutilation used to terrorize communities.
- Brenda Hollis described gang rapes, women forced into 'bushwife' slavery, child soldiers drugged, and routine hacking off of limbs with machetes.
Proving Indirect Responsibility Through Aiding And Abetting
- Prosecutors had to prove Taylor's indirect responsibility because he never set foot in Sierra Leone during the atrocities.
- Brenda Hollis focused on proving aiding and abetting through training, safe haven, instructions, and arms-for-diamonds smuggling links.