Judges clear the way for model Naomi Campbell to testify at Charles Taylor’s war crimes trial
By APWednesday, August 4, 2010
Naomi Campbell to speak at Taylor war crimes trial
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Judges at the Special Court for Sierra Leone have rejected a final protest from Charles Taylor, clearing the way for model Naomi Campbell to testify at his war crimes trial on Thursday.
Taylor’s lawyer had objected to Campbell testifying, arguing that the prosecution had not provided a summary of her likely testimony.
In Wednesday’s ruling, judges rejected that, saying it was not reasonable to expect prosecutors to have a statement from Campbell, a hostile witness.
The reluctant Campbell was subpoenaed to testify about a diamond Taylor allegedly gave her after a dinner party in South Africa in 1997.
Prosecutors say that if true, that would help show Taylor supplied arms to Sierra Leone rebels in exchange for diamonds during Sierra Leone’s 1992-2002 civil war.
