February 7, 2023 [Liberia] Day 9: The first witness is heard
Civilian 31 is heard
The Prosecution questions Civilian 31
Civilian 31 testified about some events during the war in Monrovia, where he was living. In 2002, he and his wife heard that a biscuit store had been broken into in Waterside, so they went there to get food. Once there. Civilian 31, his wife and other people were arrested by soldiers, who took them to a base under a bridge. Civilian 31 testified seeing a man named Gabriel Massaquoi, who shot two young men with a pistol. Civilian 31 mentioned that another person had shouted out that the soldiers had killed “T”, but he didn’t know the names of the young men.
According to Civilian 31, after Gabriel Massaquoi had killed the men, he said that he was Angel Gabriel, and told them to tell God about his name. Gabriel Massaquoi also gave an order to shoot anybody trying to escape. According to Civilian 31, the bodyguards of Gabriel Massaquoi took some women to a house. Then Gabriel Massaquoi repeated the order to shoot anyone trying to escape and his bodyguards shot four persons.
Civilian 31 told the Court that the troops of Charles Taylor arrived at the scene and started shouting, asking why the soldiers were killing civilians. As the Liberian troops were approaching, Civilian 31 and others managed to run away; however, one of the bodyguards opened fire and Civilian 31’s wife fell to the ground. He later explained that he saw his wife being hit in the back while running away. Civilian 31 left her there and escaped the scene.
Civilian 31 further explained that the bridge under which they were taken was the Old Bridge in Waterside. The biscuit store was on the left side when coming from the American embassy, not far from the bridge. The base under the bridge, where Civilian 31 and the others were taken to was on the right side of the bridge when coming from the American embassy. According to Civilian 31, the location of the base is currently being developed, but the location is still there.
Civilian 31 described Gabriel Massaquoi having a Sierra Leonean accent, while his soldiers were speaking Krio. They were all fighting on Charles Taylor’s side in the war. Civilian 31 explained that the reason why Gabriel Massaquoi killed the young men under the bridge was that he was saying they were spies carrying information for ULIMO. He also mentioned that the war that was ongoing in Monrovia during the events was called World War I, which lasted 3 to 4 weeks. After 1 or 2 months, it would start again and it was called World War II, and after one final break the fighting resumed, and it was called World War III. According to Civilian 31, Charles Taylor left the country and was removed from power not long after the end of World War III.
Civilian 31 also mentioned seeing a person in Waterside being stabbed in their leg with a bayonet by the bodyguards. He then mentioned he later saw the wound in this person’s right foot.
Defense questions Civilian 31
The defense began questioning Civilian 31 by asking about the base he had described. Civilian 31 explained that the base was not a large building, it was a makeshift building with corrugated iron walls.
When asked about the biscuit store, he said that there is another store located in the same place now, but he could not remember its current name. He also mentioned that he went there in a group to pick up some biscuits with his wife and some other people, whom he did not know personally.
Civilian 31 was further asked if he remembers what he had told to the lower court in 2021 about the biscuit store. He had told them that he went there with his wife, and that they were arrested. According to lower court’s judgment, however, Civilian 31 had stated that his wife had gone to the biscuit store without Civilian 31, looking for food. The witness answered that per his own understanding, he had described the event the same way in both instances. The Defense cited the pre-trial investigation report, which confirmed the version of lower court’s judgement. Civilian 31 explained that his brain is not a computer and that he might have remembered additional things after having discussed the events with the Finnish police. Civilian 31 reiterated that he went to the biscuit store with his wife and some other people after having heard that the store was open.
Civilian 31 was also asked about the names of the two young men he had mentioned being killed by Gabriel Massaquoi and why he had not mentioned the name of “T” to the Finnish police. Civilian 31 stated that he was not asked about that by the police, and he had remembered “T’s” name only after the initial interview. The defense cited the pre-trial investigation report, where the Finnish police had written that Civilian 31 was asked “Do you know the two boys” and he had answered: “No, I do not know anybody”. Civilian 31 answered this by saying that he did not know the names of these boys when the events took place.
When asked about the commander present and his war name, Civilian 31 said he did not know anybody else’s name at the scene: the commander was the only one who presented himself. According to Civilian 31, the commander stood up and told everyone that his name was Angel Gabriel Massaquoi, and that people should tell his name to God. He had camouflage trousers, a white t-shirt, and a pistol.
Civilian 31 was also asked about the timing of the events in Waterside, and he said that these took place in 2002. The Defense asked about his previous statements, as he had told in the lower court that the year was 2000. Civilian 31 answered that the events took place either in 2001 or early 2002. The Defense asked him if he remembers what he told the police about the same matter and Civilian 31 said he had told them 2000. His pre-trial investigation was cited, where he had been recorded saying that the year was 2003. The Defense also pointed out that during his testimony in lower court, where he had been asked about the different dates, he had explained that whilst he mentioned 2003 to the police, the actual date was 2000. Civilian 31 explained to the Court that his brain is not a computer and that he might remember additional things only after the initial interview. He said that after every instance when he had been asked about dates, he has had time to think about the events and he has remembered more and more.
Finally, the defense asked Civilian 31 how the Finnish police had found out he might have relevant information for the case. Civilian 31 mentioned that he had met his friends after the war, and they had discussed the events in Waterside. A man asked them what they were talking about and said that people were coming to Liberia to discuss these issues. This man took Civilian 31’s phone number and he was later called by the Finnish police. Civilian 31 also mentioned that he had not discussed these events with anyone prior to meeting his friends. When prompted, Civilian 31 shared that he had also discussed these events with the man he had seen wounded in Waterside, as they were from the same area. The man was also there when Civilian 31 was discussing the events with his friends, and he was asked for his phone number. Civilian 31 never found out the identity of the person that asked for his number, but he had told the lower court that his name was [Employee 2]. According to Civilian 31, the others present revealed his name after [Employee 2] had left.
Defense asked if Civilian 31 had given his number to [Employee 2], which Civilian 31 confirmed. The Finnish police had, however, written down that Civilian 31 was reached via someone else. and Civilian 31 said that this would be possible.
Civilian 31 also confirmed that the events where his wife died took place during World War II.
