Actress Mia Farrow told the Sierra Leone war crimes court today that she had heard supermodel Naomi Campbell say that she had been given a "huge diamond" by Charles Taylor when he was Liberia's president.
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 Mr Taylor, who is on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In court in The Hague this morning, 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 told the court, adding that Campbell had been "quite excited" about it.
Farrow said Campbell had then said she intended to give the diamond to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, adding that "it was a sort of an unforgettable moment".
Prosecutors are seeking to link the diamonds to Taylor to prove allegations, which he denies, that he received diamonds from rebels in Sierra Leone and used them to buy weapons.
Prosecutors questioned Farrow about the breakfast events in 1997, showing her Campbell's testimony from last week and a US media interview in which she denied saying the diamonds were from Taylor or denied getting diamonds at all.
Farrow said Campbell's versions of events were not consistent with hers. "Naomi Campbell said they came from Charles Taylor," she added under questioning.
Mr Taylor is charged with 11 counts of instigating murder, rape, mutilation, sexual slavery and conscription of child soldiers during wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone in which more than 250,000 people were killed. He denies all the charges.
The former manager of Mr Mandela's Children Fund charity, Jeremy Ratcliffe, has said he received a number of uncut diamonds from Campbell, and handed them to South African police on Thursday after Campbell's testimony.
Prosecutors are seeking to link the gems to Mr Taylor to prove allegations, which he denies, that he received diamonds from rebels in Sierra Leone and used them to buy weapons.
Prosecutors showed Farrow Campbell's testimony from last week and a US media interview in which she denied saying the diamonds were from Taylor, or denied getting diamonds at all.
Farrow said Campbell's versions of events were not consistent with hers. "Naomi Campbell said they came from Charles Taylor," she added under questioning.
In extended cross-examination, the defence primarily challenged Farrow's memory of the events 13 years ago, asking her whether it was possible that, while she was trying to help the court, "your recollection is failing you".
Farrow insisted: "I swear on this bible that that is what Naomi Campbell said at that breakfast."
The defence also challenged Farrow's impartiality, pressing her on her willingness to help the prosecution and her efforts to persuade Campbell - who initially refused to appear at the court - to testify.
Giving evidence, Campbell’s former agent, Carole White, said the model and Taylor were “mildly flirting” during dinner.
In her testimony, Campbell said she was seated next to Mr Mandela. But Ms White said she was in between Taylor and a man she believed to be Liberia's minister for defence. She said that, at one point, Campbell leant back and told her Taylor was going to give her a gift of diamonds.
"Naomi was very excited and told me 'He's going to give me some diamonds'. She leaned back in her chair to talk to me," Ms White said. She said Taylor was leaning forward, "smiling and nodding in agreement".
"They were being charming to each other, mildly flirting. They were just being affable," she said. "Naomi, I think, was flirting with him and he was flirting back."
She said they were "enjoying each other's company", adding: "I just heard them laughing and talking but I can't recall the conversation."
Ms White said she was Campbell's main agent for 17 years before they split in 2006. As well as negotiating her modelling deals, she was responsible for organising Campbell's hairdressers, make-up artists and bodyguards. She would also ensure dresses and jewellery were sent to the model, as well as setting up her travel arrangements.
The trial, which has been running for three years, attracted little international attention until Campbell appeared.
Taylor's lead defence lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths, said last week that the focus on Campbell was a distraction. "The trial of the first African president brought before a court of law should have been followed by the world's media assiduously from the word 'go' and it hasn't. At the end of the day, it's the celebrity status of Naomi Campbell which has brought you all here," he said.