Naomi Campbell and blood diamond: the whole picture
Naomi Campbell is preparing to appear before a war crimes tribunal in The Hague over allegations that she received a blood diamond from Liberian warlord Charles Taylor.
When a supermodel, a warlord and an actress gathered to dine at Nelson Mandela's historic residence on the slopes of Table Mountain, it was always set to be a memorable evening. Yet as Naomi Campbell slipped into her long white dress and fastened the straps of her gold sandals, it is certain that even she could not have predicted quite how memorable the night would be.
Thirteen years after the dinner, Miss Campbell, 40, is now preparing to appear before a war-crimes tribunal to discuss the events of that evening. American actress Mia Farrow has claimed that Miss Campbell received a rough-cut diamond in the hours after the dinner, delivered in the dead of night by men working for Liberia's then-President Charles Taylor. Miss Campbell has consistently denied receiving diamonds from Taylor, despite Miss Farrow's insistence to the contrary.
The man allegedly behind the dazzling gift, Charles Taylor, is currently on trial in The Hague, accused of funding years of atrocities in neighbouring Sierra Leone in return for "blood diamonds". He denies 11 counts of war crimes, and claims that he never possessed any diamonds beyond his own jewellery.
Yet the prosecution argues that Miss Campbell's testimony is highly relevant and can directly tie Charles Taylor to the trade in diamonds for arms....
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)
When a supermodel, a warlord and an actress gathered to dine at Nelson Mandela's historic residence on the slopes of Table Mountain, it was always set to be a memorable evening. Yet as Naomi Campbell slipped into her long white dress and fastened the straps of her gold sandals, it is certain that even she could not have predicted quite how memorable the night would be.
Thirteen years after the dinner, Miss Campbell, 40, is now preparing to appear before a war-crimes tribunal to discuss the events of that evening. American actress Mia Farrow has claimed that Miss Campbell received a rough-cut diamond in the hours after the dinner, delivered in the dead of night by men working for Liberia's then-President Charles Taylor. Miss Campbell has consistently denied receiving diamonds from Taylor, despite Miss Farrow's insistence to the contrary.
The man allegedly behind the dazzling gift, Charles Taylor, is currently on trial in The Hague, accused of funding years of atrocities in neighbouring Sierra Leone in return for "blood diamonds". He denies 11 counts of war crimes, and claims that he never possessed any diamonds beyond his own jewellery.
Yet the prosecution argues that Miss Campbell's testimony is highly relevant and can directly tie Charles Taylor to the trade in diamonds for arms....