Court seeks Naomi Campbell's diamond testimony
Prosecutors at the special court for Sierra Leone want to hear testimony from model Naomi Campbell
Golden Goose Shoes about a so-called blood diamond at the war crimes trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor.
The prosecution filed a motion with the court on Thursday seeking to hear testimony from the British supermodel, but the court needs to rule on whether to
subpoena her, a court spokesman said.
On trial in The Hague, Taylor denies all 11 charges of instigating murder, rape, mutilation, sexual slavery and conscription of child soldiers during wars
in Liberia and Sierra Leone in which more than 250,000 people were killed.
Prosecutors say Taylor armed and directed Revolutionary United Front rebels to win control of neighbouring Sierra Leone's diamond mines during the country's
1991-2002 civil war.
In January, prosecutors alleged Taylor gave Campbell a large rough cut diamond during a 1997 trip to South Africa following a dinner hosted by Nelson
Mandela, accusing Taylor of taking the diamonds to South Africa to buy
weapons.
Taylor has denied this.
On Thursday, the prosecution said Campbell is in a position to provide "material evidence" to rebut Taylor's claims he never possessed rough
diamonds.
The prosecution said it has made repeated but unsuccessful requests to interview Campbell about the event, adding the model was "concerned for her
safety" and that judicial intervention was now necessary to obtain her
testimony.
The spokesman for the court could not say when judges would rule on whether to order Campbell to testify.
The prosecution is also seeking testimony from modelling agent Carole White and actress Mia Farrow.
They say the agent heard Taylor say he was going to give Campbell some diamonds and was there when Campbell received them.
Farrow attended the reception where Campbell met Taylor and was told by Campbell about the gift
https://www.goldengooseshoesit.com/ the next morning, the prosecution says.
