Taylor gave model 'huge diamond'

 
Campbell appeared at the Special Court for Sierra Leone last week and said she had been given “dirty looking pebbles” after a 1997 charity dinner in South Africa, but did not know if they were diamonds from Taylor, who is on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In court on Monday, Farrow said she had seen Campbell join a group of guests at breakfast after the dinner, hosted by South African president Nelson Mandela, and that the British model had immediately started relating something that had happened overnight.

“She said in the night she had been awakened by men knocking at her door that said they had been sent to her by Charles Taylor, and they had given her a huge diamond,” Farrow said, adding that Campbell had been “quite excited” about it.

Model flirted with Taylor

Later, Campbell’s former business agent told the court the model flirted with Taylor at a 1997 dinner and he arranged to send her a gift of uncut diamonds.

Carole White’s testimony also contradicts the model’s statements. Campbell had downplayed her contact with Taylor, saying she received an unexpected gift.