Prosecutors in the trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor have said he should be handed an 80-year sentence following his war crimes conviction in The Hague last week.
In a brief, the team told the Special Court for Sierra Leone the “extreme magnitude” of the crimes he committed warranted the long-term sentence.
The 64-year old was found guilty on 11 counts, including rape and murder, relating to the Sierra Leone civil war.
He will be sentenced on 30 May.
During the 1991-2002 civil war Charles Taylor, who was president of neighbouring Liberia, backed Revolutionary United Front rebels who killed tens of thousands of people.
In return, he received “blood diamonds” collected by slaves. (BBC)
