FIU law students to represent victims in final hearing of torture trial for Chuckie Taylor

WHAT:  The Carlos A. Costa Immigration and Human Rights clinic at the FIU College of Law is representing five victims in the federal civil trial of Chuckie Taylor, the son of former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor. The trial follows Taylor’s 2008 conviction under the Convention Against Torture, when he was found guilty and sentenced to 97 years in federal prison.

Friday’s hearing will be devoted to direct and cross examination of the victims’ expert psychologist on the after-effects of torture, followed by closing arguments. Taylor has appeared at prior hearings and is expected to be present. 

WHO: Charles McArthur Emmanuel, known also as Chuckie Taylor, is the son of former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor, who is currently being prosecuted in The Hague. In 1997, Chuckie Taylor was appointed by his father to the position of commander of an elite special forces group known as the Liberian Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATI).

The five victims being represented, Rufus Kpadeh, Nathaniel Koah, Esther Koah, Mamie Doris Koah, and Anthony Sonkarlay, are citizens and/or residents of Liberia who could not previously come forward with their complaints due to the violence and conflict ongoing within that region.

The Carlos A. Costa Immigration and Human Rights Clinic at FIU’s College of Law allows students taking part in the clinic to act as student attorneys on behalf of disadvantaged immigrants from all over the world. The clinic has also recently expanded to provide assistance in areas of international human rights work in various countries.

WHEN AND WHERE:  Jan. 22, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. at the Miami Federal Courthouse, 12^th Floor – Judge Adalberto Jordan, 400 N. Miami Avenue.  The hearing is open to the public. Because of heightened court security, attendees should arrive no later than 1 p.m.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Please contact Troy Elder at the FIU College of Law at 305-348-7541 or eldert@fiu.edu.

Media Contact:  Lissette Lanza  at 305-348-2232.

-FIU-

 About FIU College of Law:
The Florida International University College of Law meets an important need in the community by providing a quality, affordable legal education for South Florida residents. The student body, while principally from South Florida, is diverse in racial, ethnic, and professional background.  FIU College of Law graduates have passed the Florida Bar Exam at rates exceeding the statewide pass rate. 

 About FIU:
Florida International University was founded in 1965 and is Miami’s only public research university. With a student body of more than 38,000, its 17 colleges and schools offer more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations and law. More than 100,000 FIU alumni live and work in South Florida. FIU has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a “High Research Activity University”. In August 2009, FIU welcomed the inaugural class of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu.