War crimes prosecutors want to subpoena supermodel Naomi Campbell over claims that she received a blood diamond as a gift from former Liberian president Charles Taylor, who is currently on trial for crimes against humanity.
It is alleged that the former President gave the diamond to the supermodel on one of her trips to South Africa following a dinner hosted by Nelson Mandela. Naomi, 39, has so far refused to co-operate with the hearing and recently stormed out of a U.S. television interview when she was asked about it. A judge will now decide if a subpoena will be issued forcing her to attend the hearing. ‘
Ms Campbell’s testimony is necessary as there is evidence that she was given rough diamonds by the accused (Taylor) in September 1997,’ said a prosecution motion filed with the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Taylor is currently on trial for 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. It is also alleged that he provided arms and ammunition to brutal rebels during Sierra Leone’s civil war in exchange for diamonds. He denies the allegations. The prosecution is also calling on actress Mia Farrow who said Campbell told her about the former President’s elaborate gift.
