Actress Mia Farrow testified at Charles Taylor’s war crimes trial yesterday that fashion model Naomi Campbell told her she had been sent a “huge diamond” by the former Liberian ruler in 1997, contradicting Campbell’s evidence last week.
The prosecution called Farrow and Campbell’s former agent, Carole White, to testify about uncut diamonds the former Liberian president allegedly gave the model at a September 1997 party hosted by Nelson Mandela.
Campbell told the court last week she was given several small stones by unknown men during the night, but she hadn’t known they were diamonds nor who had sent them.
If Farrow’s account is true, it would dent Taylor’s denials of involvement with the trade in illicit diamonds.
The prosecution claims Taylor traded guns to rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone in exchange for uncut diamonds – known as “blood diamonds” for their role in financing conflicts – during the country’s 1992-2002 civil war, which left more than 100,000 dead.
Farrow testified that Campbell told guests over breakfast she had received a diamond from Charles Taylor.
“She said that in the night she had been awakened, some men were knocking at the door, and they had been sent by Charles Taylor, and they had given her a huge diamond,” Farrow said, recounting her memory of what Campbell said at the time.
Farrow said an excited Campbell said she would give the gift to charity.
Taylor denies all 11 charges he faces at the Special Tribunal for Sierra Leone, including murder, rape, sexual enslavement and recruiting child soldiers.
Be the first to comment