Supermodel Naomi Campbell Testifies She Received "Stones" From Dictator

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Aug 5th 2010 at 2:01PM

Supermodel Naomi Campbell is back in court but this time it's not for her own defense. She took the stand against Liberian President Charles Taylor Thursday at a special tribunal in the Netherlands. Taylor is being tried for war crimes and Campbell was questioned over the issue of whether or not Taylor gave her rough diamonds that are believed to be "blood diamonds," conflict stones mined in Sierra Leone. Liberia is next to Sierra Leone, which in the 1990s was involved in a bloody civil war partly fueled by the money earned by selling diamonds. Taylor has been accused of taking possession of Sierra Leone diamonds and using them both for his own profit and to buy arms which would be sent back to the war-torn country. Taylor has pleaded not guilty to charges of crimes against humanity including murder and enslavement and war crimes including acts of terrorism and torture. The civil war in Sierra Leone killed approximately 500,000 people and many others were mutilated, having arms and hands cut off. The rebels were infamous for their use of drugged child soldiers who were taken from their homes and sent off to commit horrible crimes. In 2003, the Kimberley Process certification program was established to prevent rough diamonds from being used to finance these types of conflicts and to stop these stones from making their way into the global market.

Taylor has publicly said that he never handled blood diamonds. Prosecutors had rested their case in February of 2009 but later reopened it after hearing that Campbell may have received diamonds from Taylor. Campbell was called to testify to tell her story of meeting Taylor and receiving a gift of "dirty-looking stones" later the same evening. The hand-off occurred after a dinner hosted by Nelson Mandela in 1997 that was attended by Campbell, Taylor, Mia Farrow and others. After the dinner Campbell says she was asleep in her hotel room when there was a knock at the door. She opened the door and two men handed her a small pouch that they said was a gift. The next morning she opened the pouch to see a few small stones. At breakfast she told the story to her agent at the time, Carole White and Mia Farrow. Campbell says she passed the stones on to a friend and asked him to use them in a charity auction to raise money for underprivileged children. The episode could prove as a vital link showing that Taylor at least had possession of rough diamonds.

AP video of the testimony is after the jump.

Tags: blood diamonds, charles taylor, charles taylor trial, conflict diamonds, LiberianRefugees, naomi campbell, naomi campbell blood diamond

Filed under: Jewelry

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Bishop Walter Dixon Aug 5th 2010 2:16PM

August 5, 2010 6:31 A.M.
Bishop Walter Dixon’s of Atlanta, GA Official Press Release and invitation for prayer and spiritual counseling to super model Naomi Campbell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jST6_6eRoS0
My Dear Sister in Christ Naomi Campbell
As I listen to several news articles about you I have been touched by the Holy Spirit to write this letter and prayer to extend an invitation for spiritual counseling.
Most important it is time that you take in to consideration that you may need to make a change in your spiritual life and let God take control. Sometimes God will allow us to go through several storms in life waiting for us to call and depend on him for guidance in our life because he is God and master of the universe.
The price and struggles you have endures has truly opened the doors for thousands of young women around the world especially African American women who look at you as a positive role model.
It is wonderful to know “God” is in the business of taking bad and turning it into good. Satan always working at taking good and turning it into bad. These things always happen when we live by the flesh instead of walking by faith and living faithfully by the words.
Sister Campbell none of us is perfect and yes, we all make mistakes in life. The worst thing you could ever do in life is to put yourself in front of God. I’m not saying you have, I’m saying it is time for you to make mend with yourself through “Christ” in asking for forgiveness of all mistakes you have made especially all sins known and unknown.
Sister Campbell your family should always be the most important asset to you prior to “God” in your life. Take care of that first, and everything else will come together. I extend an invitation to meet with you privately to help you through these matters and to open your heart to God. Sometimes God will send a stranger in your life to do his will in getting you to connect far beyond the horizon of life success to the spiritual life that can only bring about salivation.
Through the Holy Spirit I do believe you will be fine. Sister Campbell, stay focus on being a good “Christian” helping others and always give God the praise. Remember he is a jealous “God” and that which he provides he can take away. You come too far to lose it all over human errors. Your legacy which you have accomplished will continue to pioneer others.
Below is a prayer exclusively for you and your family. I trust you will enjoy it and it will find you one step closer to peace.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.(John 3:16, 17).
Therefore having been justified by faith, may you have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom you have obtained your introduction by faith into his grace in which you stand; and you exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but you also exult in your tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within your heart through the Holy Spirit who was given to you (Romans 5:1-5).
You may be afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise you also with Jesus and will present your mind, body and most important, your soul with him.
Therefore you should never lose heart, but through your inner flesh is decaying yet your inner soul is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for you an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while you look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporally, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2.Corinthians 4:8,9,14 16-18).
As you come forward with your apology on behalf of your behavior s, may your Lord Jesus Christ be near you to defend you, within you to refresh you, around you to preserve you, before you to guide you, behind you to justify you, above you to bless you. You shall lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Ghost for all the remaining days of your life.
Our Father, be gracious to your child our sister in Christ Naomi Campbell, O God, according to Thy loving kindness and According to the greatness of Thy compassion. She asked for your help, Father she maybe perplexed and maybe afraid. God if it is your will give this child of yours extended years while she is on earth through your “Grace”. God, send your angels to provide your child Naomi Campbell‘s and family all their needs as they lay there prayers and burden in your hands.
Lord your child Naomi Campbell is asking for a second chance to show you she welcomes you in her heart. She thank you for your son Jesus Christ who died for us all to have salivation.
Amen
Bishop Walter Dixon
Forgiveness Missionary Church of Christ
bishopwldixon@yahoo.com
404.849.2033
P.O. Box 832161
Stone Mountain, GA 30083