Son of Liberia ex-president ordered to pay $22 million to torture victims News
Son of Liberia ex-president ordered to pay $22 million to torture victims

[JURIST] A US federal court Friday ordered a final judgment of $22 million [press release, PDF] against Charles Emmanuel "Chuckie" Taylor, Jr." to be paid to five torture victims. Charles was charged [indictment, PDF] with torture while he was in charge of Liberia's Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU). The order issued by the judge outlined:

the multiple forms of torture; cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment or treatment; arbitrary arrest and prolonged detention to which the plaintiffs were subjected and recognizes the past, present and future physical and mental suffering those abuses inflicted.

Human Rights USA [advocacy website], which served as amicus curaie in the criminal case and represented plaintiffs in the civil case against Taylor, said it hoped the award would "serve as a deterrent to others who believe they could mistreat fellow humans in this manner and never be held accountable."

Taylor is the son of former Liberian president Charles Taylor [BBC profile; JURIST news archive], who is currently on trial [case website] before the Special Court for Sierra Leone [official website] sitting at The Hague. Taylor faces 11 counts [indictment, PDF] of crimes against humanity, violations of the Geneva Conventions [materials], and other violations of international humanitarian law stemming from a "campaign to terrorize the civilian population" of Sierra Leone.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.