Netherlands ? Former Liberian President Charles Taylor plunged the start of his landmark war crimes trial into chaos on Monday by boycotting the hearing and firing his lawyer, saying he did not believe he would get a fair trial.

Taylor, 59, is accused of arming and controlling rebels who raped, mutilated and enslaved civilians during the 10-year civil war in Liberia’s neighbor Sierra Leone, which ended in 2002. He has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

He also is linked to brutality in his own country, but Liberians have opted for a truth and reconciliation commission rather than a court.

Taylor refused to leave his jail cell to attend the start of his trial. In a letter to the court, he said he did not believe he could get a fair trial because he was being denied enough time and money for an adequate defense.

Taylor’s court-appointed lawyer, Karim Khan, delivered the news to judges at the Special Court for Sierra Leone before gathering up his papers and leaving. The presiding judge, Julia Sebutinde, ordered proceedings to continue.

Taylor complained in the letter that his single defense attorney was heavily outgunned by the nine-member prosecution team. Taylor has up to $2 million to spend on defense for the trial, according to prosecutors.