Charles Taylor tribunal dominated by Naomi Campbell
The “dirty stones” allegedly given to Naomi Campbell by Charles Taylor, the African warlord, have dominated his UN trial for crimes against humanity in Sierra Leone.
The incident at a star studded gala banquet hosted by Nelson Mandela in 1997 has overshadowed harrowing testimony from victims linking the former Liberian president to war crimes and mass amputations carried out by Sierra Leone’s RUF rebels.
The link is critical because Mr Taylor, 63, is accused by prosecutors of trading in “blood diamonds” to fund Sierra Leone brutal and bloody civil war, in which 120,000 people died over 10 years.
Testimony from Miss Campbell and Mia Farrow, the American actress, who was also present at the dinner, has provided headlines for a case, the first prosecution of a former African head of state, that has often struggled to grab the world’s attention....
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)
The incident at a star studded gala banquet hosted by Nelson Mandela in 1997 has overshadowed harrowing testimony from victims linking the former Liberian president to war crimes and mass amputations carried out by Sierra Leone’s RUF rebels.
The link is critical because Mr Taylor, 63, is accused by prosecutors of trading in “blood diamonds” to fund Sierra Leone brutal and bloody civil war, in which 120,000 people died over 10 years.
Testimony from Miss Campbell and Mia Farrow, the American actress, who was also present at the dinner, has provided headlines for a case, the first prosecution of a former African head of state, that has often struggled to grab the world’s attention....