David Crane: Prosecuting a Sitting Head of State for Atrocity Crimes for the First Time in History

This episode of Lawyering Peace, features Chief Prosecutor for the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone (Special Court), David Crane. Crane is renowned for indicting Charles Taylor, the former President of Liberia, marking the first time a sitting head of state was held accountable for atrocity crimes. Given this milestone, the Special Court has been used as a blueprint for subsequent international criminal tribunals. 

 

The episode delves into the effectiveness of the Special Court in establishing durable peace and explores the conflict in Sierra Leone that led to its creation. It also examines the blanket amnesty provided in the peace agreement that ended the conflict and the impact of the Truth Commission that was conducted prior to the court's mandate. 

David Crane shares some of the unique challenges and unexpected obstacles he faced as Chief Prosecutor, providing a vivid account of his experiences.

Notably, David’s story exemplifies how “the rule of law is more powerful than the rule of the gun”. 

Tune in to gain insight on navigating the politics of justice.

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