Naomi Campbell tells Taylor trial of 'dirty stones'
Model Naomi Campbell has testified that she was given some "dirty-looking stones" after a 1997 dinner attended by ex-Liberian president Charles Taylor.
Speaking at Mr Taylor's war crimes trial in The Hague, she said late that night, two unidentified men appeared at her room and gave her the stones.
However, she had no proof that the stones were diamonds or came from Mr Taylor, as a fellow guest suggested.
Linking him to illegal "blood diamonds" is key to the prosecution's case.
Mr Taylor, who denies all of the charges against him, is accused of using illegal diamonds to fund the brutal civil war in Sierra Leone.
He says he never sold or traded diamonds for weapons.
Celebrity dinner
Ms Campbell, who was late appearing in the courtroom, swore on a Bible before beginning her testimony.
Ms Campbell said she was given two or three unprocessed stones after a celebrity dinner in South Africa, hosted by former South African President Nelson Mandela and attended by US actress Mia Farrow and others, including Mr Taylor.
Before meeting him, she had not heard of Mr Taylor or of Liberia.
She said she was sleeping in her room that night when there was a knock at the door.
"Two men were there and gave me a pouch and said: 'A gift for you'," she said....
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Speaking at Mr Taylor's war crimes trial in The Hague, she said late that night, two unidentified men appeared at her room and gave her the stones.
However, she had no proof that the stones were diamonds or came from Mr Taylor, as a fellow guest suggested.
Linking him to illegal "blood diamonds" is key to the prosecution's case.
Mr Taylor, who denies all of the charges against him, is accused of using illegal diamonds to fund the brutal civil war in Sierra Leone.
He says he never sold or traded diamonds for weapons.
Celebrity dinner
Ms Campbell, who was late appearing in the courtroom, swore on a Bible before beginning her testimony.
Ms Campbell said she was given two or three unprocessed stones after a celebrity dinner in South Africa, hosted by former South African President Nelson Mandela and attended by US actress Mia Farrow and others, including Mr Taylor.
Before meeting him, she had not heard of Mr Taylor or of Liberia.
She said she was sleeping in her room that night when there was a knock at the door.
"Two men were there and gave me a pouch and said: 'A gift for you'," she said....