Naomi Campbell to Be Subpoenaed in War Crimes Case

By John Mitchell Posted May 20th 2010 05:07PM

Supermodel Naomi Campbell may be subpoenaed to testify before the International Criminal Court at The Hague in the ongoing trial of Charles Taylor regarding alleged blood diamonds given to her by the former Liberian leader while the two attended a dinner at the home of then-South African president Nelson Mandela in September of 1997, according the BBC News. Taylor is on trial for war crimes committed during the brutal, decade-long civil war in Sierra Leone.

Campbell has long evaded questioning in the case, having already declined to voluntarily testify. However, war crimes investigators were alerted Thursday to a photograph of Campbell and Taylor together at the dinner party, when the photo -- which was taken by actress Mia Farrow -- was featured during an ABC News segment on the controversy. Prosecutors feel the photo, combined with testimony by Farrow and Campbell's then-agent linking her to the blood diamonds, is more than enough to compel the model to testify.

"Ms. Campbell's testimony is necessary as there is evidence that Ms. Campbell was given rough diamonds by the accused [Mr. Taylor] in September 1997," a prosecution motion filed with the Special Court for Sierra Leone read.

Taylor has been linked to the selling of diamonds and the buying of weapons for Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels. RUF were notorious for "hacking off the hands and legs of civilians" during the 1991-2001 civil war in Sierra Leone, according to the BBC. He has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and has been on trial since 2008.

Farrow, who was also at the dinner the night Taylor allegedly gave Campbell the diamond and who is also being asked to testify, discovered the photo with an ABC News producer while looking through an old photo album.

Upon learning of the photo's existence, Brenda Hollis, lead prosecutor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone, told Farrow, "I'm excited to hear that you have it," and suggested it could be instrumental in attempts to subpoena Campbell.

Campbell became irate when ABC News reporters asked her about the diamond last month. She walked out of the interview, but not before knocking the crew's camera to the ground. During a May appearance on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show,' Campbell similarly refused to discuss the incident, telling Winfrey, "I don't want to be involved in this man's case -- he has done some terrible things and I don't want to put my family in danger."

Farrow told ABC News and investigators that the morning after the dinner, Campbell told her she received a "huge" uncut diamond from Taylor's representatives, who had come to her room during the night.

Campbell's then-agent, Carole White, relayed a similar, though eye-witness, account of the incident in a statement to prosecutors, informing them she saw "several men giving Campbell a 'half dozen' uncut diamonds" (via ABC News). Like Farrow, White has indicated she is willing to testify.

White's lawyer, Daniel Bright, said that the agent, who represented Campbell from 1992 to 2007, overheard Taylor telling Campbell at the dinner that he wanted to give her the diamonds. Later, when Taylor's representatives came to the guest house where Campbell was staying, they threw pebbles at the windows. They reportedly hit White's window instead and she let them into the house.

White, according to her lawyer, remembers Campbell being disappointed with the stones, because she did not expected them to be uncut. Bright adds that White claims she convinced the model to get rid of the diamonds the next day, saying she gave them to an unnamed third individual.

Farrow told ABC News that Campbell told her she planned to give the diamonds to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund; however, The Fund says it has no record of receiving any gems from the supermodel.

Defense attorneys for Taylor reportedly have ten days to respond to the investigators' motion for the subpoena.

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Tags: Mia Farrow, naomi campbell

Comments

(20)

Thursday 20 May

By Apple

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Naomi is definately a known Fashion Model that we wish would just go away, she is far from being a Super person!!! This chick's physical beauty is over shadowed by her repeated BAD ATTITUDE and Aggressive and Violent Behavior!!! I am waiting for her to throw something or strike out at that 1 wrong person so I can read that she Got her A** Beat Down! In such a high profile position she should be so consciencous of the fact that young people look up to her and she alway's manages to send a negative message, she's no lady!!!!

By jt44mag

yeah caught with her hands in the cookie jar ...absolutely disgusting ..!!!..charles taylor deserves his nuts to be slowly crushed and to be staked out on the ground so the buzzards can pluck out his eyes and the ants and other wildlife feed on his body while still alive ..

Friday 21 May

By Steve & Flor

No. He deserves to be executed. But we must be better than he. Hung, firing squad, lethal injection, all will do. It is for God to determine his eternal fate. It is enough that we send him to meet that fate.

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

No to your manner of death. Execute him. Firing squad, hanging, leathal injection, etc. all will do. It is for God to decide his eternal fate. It is enough for us to send him to meet that fate. We need not take earthly vengence. Rather than to do so, show mercy in the form of his execution and leave the rest to God.

Saturday 22 May

By Chris

Vote down Vote up Report this

You're a very sick, sadistic individual.

By Sandra

As IF this despicable cow would tell the truth about what she did with those diamonds! Of course she did NOT give them to charity, she needs all her money to pay for the fake hair and weaves! She is a foul human being and I just don't get why she's a "top model", she certainly isn't ANYTHING special!

By Jerome

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Don't ask why us homeboys prefer the white women instead

By Stan

If you're black, then I'm Pat Robertson.

By algonquin j. calhoun

naynay is an industrial strength irritant and a filthy human being...if tastelessness was a crime, she'd be on death row...

By wolf E

I was going to write a blog concerning the disgusting Taylor and Miss Campbell but jt44mag summed it up very nicely. Thanks.

By leon

Sounds like the makings for a good suspense movie ( with her in the starring role).

By Eric

What makes me think Ms. Campbell will lie through her teeth???

By dodah001

Just what the hell is this all about? Naomi, not being any smarter than yo average female"garboon" probably thinks a "Subpoena" is a new brand of kotex. Ya know what i'm sayin!

By johntyga

if this is true, then campbell sould go to prison!

By marlene

What a bunch of haters on this site.I bet if she was like us white it would be fine.No one is talking about her beating on anyone,So Apple read the blog. maybe you cant read anyway.People get a life.

By taniadunga

No, it would NOT be otherwise if she were WHITE! GROW UP AND DO NOT START THIS DISGUSTING RACE CARD BS! There are a few WHITE TRASH OUT THERE TOO MAKING STUPID CHOICES!

By BigE

Maybe Naomi Campbell likes her arms, legs, hands, face and those of her family. I doubt her testimony is necessary to prove the case against Taylor. Smart girl. I wouldn't get involvde either. A lot of people have blood diamonds since people die or are enslaved each day for them.

By Cherie

Taking blood diamonds & fencing them for RUF? I really hope they throw the book at her. For once I am beyond disgusted. Naomi is living proof ugly is to the bone & she has the moral fiber of a wet paper bag!!!

By Renee

Good, I hope this witch gets everything she deserves and more. She is a vile, mean, sadistic person - I won't even refer to her as human because she is not. She must be mentally deranged because she repeatedly does the same thing to people.

By Amy U

Her outer beauty is far overshadowed by her inner ugliness..Mean spirited ,self centered ,egotistical,etc..I'm not surprised at all at her actions. She has gotten away with too mcuh for too long..It's bound to catch up with her someday..

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