The defense has been against the move to let victims give testimony, arguing the dispute was not on whether the atrocities occurred, but on whether Taylor was responsible.
Legal experts said the trial would be centered on whether Taylor ordered, supported or condoned alleged atrocities, rather than whether he committed those acts himself.
The former warlord, who was Liberia's president between 1997 and 2003, has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. He could face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.
The trial was opened last June, but was delayed several times in the past six months amid claim by Taylor of inadequate defense.
On the first day of his trial, the former warlord refused to show up in the courtroom and sacked his court-appointed lawyer Karim Khan, plunging the legal proceedings into chaos.
With a new defense team led by British barrister Courtenay Griffiths in place early August, the trial was later put on hold until Jan. 7, 2008 to give the newly composed defense team additional time to prepare.
The trial is expected to be concluded by the end of 2009, which will be certain to drag into appeal.
