( CNN ) -- Former Liberian President Charles Taylor boycotted his war crimes trial again Wednesday after judges rejected a delayed summary from his defense team , a court official said . Taylor is the first African ruler to appear before an international war crimes tribunal . He is accused of fueling a bloody civil war in Liberia and neighboring Sierra Leone that led to widespread murder , rapes and mutilation . The former president has pleaded not guilty to charges that include crimes against humanity and war crimes . His lawyers first walked out Tuesday after a tribunal declined to accept their trial summary because it was filed after a January 14 deadline , a court spokesman said . His defense team walked out first , then Taylor refused to return to the courtroom after a break , said Solomon Moriba , a spokesman for The Hague court in the Netherlands . `` He indicated he was deeply upset and needed to rest , '' Moriba said . Taylor did not attend the proceedings again Wednesday , and the judge has adjourned the case until Friday , the spokesman said . The boycott comes as prosecutors prepared to present their closing arguments . The verdict is expected this summer , Moriba said . Taylor is on trial at the Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague . United Nations officials and the Sierra Leone government jointly set up a special tribunal to try those who played the biggest role in the atrocities . Prosecutors allege that Taylor , who was president of Liberia from 1997 to 2003 , fueled the lengthy civil war , which killed tens of thousands , using riches from a diamond trade . The so-called blood diamonds are mined in war zones to support rebels and warlords . Blood diamonds have fueled bloody conflicts in Africa for more than a decade . The trial has included testimony from supermodel Naomi Campbell , who said that Taylor gave her `` dirty-looking '' uncut diamonds as a gift . Prosecutors were hoping her testimony would tie him to blood diamonds . Last year , Washington said it expedited a $ 4.5 million grant because the court was facing a financial crisis . The U.S. urged the international community to donate to the court before its financial resources run out . If found guilty , Taylor will be sent to a prison in Britain , the spokesman said .
Taylor is the first African head of state to appear before an international war crimes tribunal . He is accused of fueling a bloody civil war in Washington and neighboring CNN . `` He indicated he was deeply upset and needed to rest , '' a court spokesman says of the boycott . Charles Taylor has pleaded not guilty to charges that include crimes against humanity .