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Mia Farrow testifies: Campbell said gift was 'huge diamond'

Mia Farrow testifies that model Naomi Campbell told her she received a diamond from then-Liberian President Charles Taylor, contradicting Campbell's testimony at Taylor's war crimes trial.

Actress Mia Farrow testifies at the Special Court for Sierra Leone in Leidschendam, Netherlands. Farrow said Monday that Naomi Campbell had named Liberia's Charles Taylor as the man who sent a diamond to the supermodel's room in 1997.

Aug. 9, 2010

Actress Mia Farrow testifies at the Special Court for Sierra Leone in Leidschendam, Netherlands. Farrow said Monday that Naomi Campbell had named Liberia's Charles Taylor as the man who sent a diamond to the supermodel's room in 1997.

Robert Vos-AFP/Getty Images

Farrow's testimony contradicts Taylor's denials of any involvement with the trade in illicit gems known as blood diamonds -- stones that fuel wars.

Aug. 9, 2010

Farrow's testimony contradicts Taylor's denials of any involvement with the trade in illicit gems known as blood diamonds -- stones that fuel wars.

AP

Farrow testified that Campbell had told other guests about the diamond over breakfast after a party hosted by then-South African President Nelson Mandela.

"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 told the court.

Aug. 9, 2010

Farrow testified that Campbell had told other guests about the diamond over breakfast after a party hosted by then-South African President Nelson Mandela. "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 told the court.

AP

Naomi Campbell said she hadn't known the stones she received were diamonds nor who had sent them, and suggested that Farrow or the supermodel's former agent, Carole White, had commented at breakfast the next morning that they were probably diamonds. Farrow said she had never seen the diamond or diamonds herself.

Aug. 9, 2010

Naomi Campbell said she hadn't known the stones she received were diamonds nor who had sent them, and suggested that Farrow or the supermodel's former agent, Carole White, had commented at breakfast the next morning that they were probably diamonds. Farrow said she had never seen the diamond or diamonds herself.

Robert Vos-AP

Media members await the arrival of British supermodel Naomi Campbell at the war crimes trial of former Liberian ruler Charles Taylor in Leidschendam, Netherlands.

Aug. 5, 2010

Media members await the arrival of British supermodel Naomi Campbell at the war crimes trial of former Liberian ruler Charles Taylor in Leidschendam, Netherlands.

Marcel Antonisse-AFP/Getty Images

People walk past a security guard outside the Special Court for Sierra Leone, where judges are trying to determine whether former Liberian ruler Charles Taylor gave weapons to Sierra Leone rebels in exchange for diamonds during that country's 1992-2002 civil war.

Aug. 5, 2010

People walk past a security guard outside the Special Court for Sierra Leone, where judges are trying to determine whether former Liberian ruler Charles Taylor gave weapons to Sierra Leone rebels in exchange for diamonds during that country's 1992-2002 civil war.

Anoek De Groot-AFP/Getty Images

Members of the media sign in to enter the special court for Sierra Leone in Leidschendam.

Aug. 5, 2010

Members of the media sign in to enter the special court for Sierra Leone in Leidschendam.

Anoek De Groot-AFP/Getty Images

A car, part of a two-car motorcade confirmed by police to be transporting model Naomi Campbell, passes the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

Aug. 5, 2010

A car, part of a two-car motorcade confirmed by police to be transporting model Naomi Campbell, passes the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

Michael Kooren-Reuters

The empty chair for Naomi Campbell is pictured at the special court for Sierra Leone in Leidschendam.

Aug. 5, 2010

The empty chair for Naomi Campbell is pictured at the special court for Sierra Leone in Leidschendam.

Vincent Jannink-AFP/Getty Images

Former Liberian president Charles Taylor sits down at the U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in Leidschendam, Netherlands. Prosecutors say that, from his seat of power in Liberia, Taylor armed, trained and commanded Sierra Leone rebels who murdered and mutilated thousands of civilians across the border. Taylor says he is innocent of the 11 war crimes charges he faces, including murder, rape, sexual enslavement and recruiting child soldiers.

Aug. 5, 2010

Former Liberian president Charles Taylor sits down at the U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in Leidschendam, Netherlands. Prosecutors say that, from his seat of power in Liberia, Taylor armed, trained and commanded Sierra Leone rebels who murdered and mutilated thousands of civilians across the border. Taylor says he is innocent of the 11 war crimes charges he faces, including murder, rape, sexual enslavement and recruiting child soldiers.

Vincent Jannink-Reuters

In this image made from television Naomi Campbell is seen holding the bible being sworn in at the U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in Leidschendam, Netherlands.

Entering the courtroom fashionably late - several minutes after she was first summoned to take the stand - Campbell was calm and composed as she quickly answered questions from prosecutor Brenda Hollis.

"I didn't really want to be here," she said. "I just want to get this over with and get on with my life."

Aug. 5, 2010

In this image made from television Naomi Campbell is seen holding the bible being sworn in at the U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in Leidschendam, Netherlands. Entering the courtroom fashionably late - several minutes after she was first summoned to take the stand - Campbell was calm and composed as she quickly answered questions from prosecutor Brenda Hollis. "I didn't really want to be here," she said. "I just want to get this over with and get on with my life."

AP

A picture grabbed on the site of the Special Tribunal for Sierra Leone shows British supermodel Naomi Campbell answering questions at the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in Leidschendam. The British model said on the stand Thursday she was awakened in the middle of the night after the September 1997 dinner party by two black men at her door. She said they offered her a pouch they said was a gift for her with no further explanation.

She said she frequently receives gifts from admirers and didn't look at it until the following morning.

"I saw a few stones in there. And they were small dirty-looking stones," she said.

Aug. 5, 2010

A picture grabbed on the site of the Special Tribunal for Sierra Leone shows British supermodel Naomi Campbell answering questions at the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in Leidschendam. The British model said on the stand Thursday she was awakened in the middle of the night after the September 1997 dinner party by two black men at her door. She said they offered her a pouch they said was a gift for her with no further explanation. She said she frequently receives gifts from admirers and didn't look at it until the following morning. "I saw a few stones in there. And they were small dirty-looking stones," she said.

--AFP/Getty Images

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This Story Naomi Campbell testimony to war crimes tribunal: not clear gift was diamonds Article \| THE HAGUE -- At stake was the fate of Charles Taylor, 62, the first African president brought before an international war crimes tribunal. Although he looked like a London banker with his gray hair and pinstripe suit, the U.S.-educated Taylor stood accused of murder, rape, sexual slavery, cruelty... Mia Farrow testifies: Campbell said gift was 'huge diamond' Naomi Campbell video: Model testifies about Taylor		Network News X Profile View More Activity TOOLBOX E-Mail This Reprints		More on washingtonpost.com • More Photo News » washingtonpost.com
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