Two former Sierra Leone soldiers Revolutionary United Front (RUF), have distanced a former commander of the group from a notorious name that has been a key issue in his war crimes trial.
Soldiers asserted before Finland’s Turku Court of Appeal in Monrovia on Wednesday that Gibril Massaquoi, who is on trial for murder, rape and other alleged human rights violations, was never called “Angel Gabriel” as prosecutors allege.
“Yes. I know of an Angel Gabriel, said “Defense 3” [name and names of other witnesses withheld to protect them from retributions]. Defense 3 claimed that the man was killed by the Kamajors, a group of traditional hunters, who were loyal to Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, the president of Sierra Leone at the time. “We were all fighting for a battalion, but he died. He was a member of the RUF, they called him a sergeant. He used to have two or three people as bodyguards”.
“Angel Gabriel lived in Jujuma [Sierra Leone], said “Defense 6”. “He was a sergeant… that’s what I heard on the field radio.”
Prosecutors and their witnesses have claimed that Massaquoi, now 53, introduced himself with the controversial name to civilians or fellow soldiers at Waterside in Monrovia before killing them. Witnesses told the Court of Appeal and Tampere’s Pirkanmaa District Court, which just over a year ago acquitted Mr Massaquoi of all charges because prosecutors failed to prove to them “beyond a reasonable doubt” that for the alleged murders, Mŕ Massaquoi “sent his captives to God.”
Prosecutors say the alleged crimes were committed between June and August 2003, when Massaquoi arrived in Liberia after violating the rules of the so-called “UN safe house.” They alleged that he and other RUF soldiers backed Liberian government forces, which were countering an insurgency by Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy.
But like many other witnesses, the two defense witnesses on Wednesday challenged his charges and exonerated him of those charges. They also corroborated testimony from other defense witnesses that Massaquoi came to Liberia in the early 2000s, but only for peace purposes.
“Obama’s one peace deal was in 2000,” said Defense 3. “Obama’s two peace deals were in 2001.”
But his classification of the peace talks contradicts the testimony of other defense witnesses. They said the talks were an “ECOWAS Peace Talk”.
The trial continues on Thursday.
This story was produced in collaboration with New Narratives as part of their West African Justice Reporting Project.