Article 21, (Ratification) Act, 2011

Appellate Proceedings 1. The Appeals Chamber shall hear appeals from persons convicted by the Trial Chamber or from the Prosecutor on the following grounds: (a) A procedural error; (b) An error on a question of law invalidating the decision; (c) An error of fact which has occasioned a miscarriage of justice. informed, if he or she does not have legal assistance, of this right; and to have legal assistance assigned to him or her, in any case where the interests of justice so require, and without payment by him or her in any such case if he or she does not have sufficient means to pay for it; (e) To examine, or have examined, the witnesses against him or her and to obtain the attendance and examination of witnesses on his or her behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him or her; (f) To have the free assistance of an interpreter if he or she cannot understand or speak the language used in the Residual special Court; (g) Not to be compelled to testify against himself or herself or to confess guilt. Article 18 Protection of witnesses and victims The Residual Special Court shall provide for protective measures and security arrangements, counselling and other appropriate assistance for witnesses and victims who appeared before the Special Court or who appear before the Residual Special Court and others who are at risk on account of testimony given by such witnesses and victims. Such protection measures shall include, but shall not be limited to, the conduct of in camera proceedings and the protection of the victim’s identity. Article 19 Judgement 1. The Trial Chamber shall pronounce judgments and impose sentences and penalties on persons convicted of crimes pursuant to this Statute. 2. The Appeals Chamber may affirm, reverse or revise the decisions taken by the Trial Chamber. The judgment shall be rendered by a majority of the judges of the Appeals Chamber, and shall be delivered in public. It shall be accompanied by a reasoned opinion in writing, to which separate or dissenting opinions may be appended. 3. The judges of the Appeals Chamber shall be guided by the decisions of the Appeals Chambers of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. In the interpretation and application of the laws of Sierra Leone, they shall be guided by the decisions of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone.