Nigeria, Feb. 4 -- Alieu Kosiah, the convicted Liberian warlord challenging his 20-year-sentence for war crimes, told the Swiss Federal Court hearing his appeal that the trial had destroyed his life.

In 2021 the Swiss court found Kosiah, a former commander of the United Liberation Movement of Liberia (Ulimo), guilty of 21 of 25 counts including murder, rape and recruitment of a child soldier. He's facing fresh charges of crimes against humanity on appeal and could see his sentence increased should he lose.

As the appeal enters its final stages Kosiah said he had been "destroyed forever", regardless of the outcome of the appeal and his family is also stigmatized for their link to him.

"My life is technically destroyed," said Kosiah when...