Trial of Charles Taylor by Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague is in the news for testimony by Naomi Campbell and Mia Farrow. It seems the trial has become a farce and summoning of Naomi Campbell and Mia Farrow as witnesses if for publicity. Naomi Campbell’s then agent Carole White also testified but she is not famous like the other two and did not have much publicity value. Charles Taylor was president of Liberia from 1997 to 2003. He is accused of selling weapons in exchange for diamonds, known as blood diamonds, to Sierra Leone rebels. The trial began in June 2007 and did not have much publicity.
Leaders of small countries get arrested for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Leaders of big countries who commit greater crimes are safe. Many civilians have died due to bombing by American planes in Iraq, Serbia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. No American President has been charged with any crime.
Carole White has sued Naomi Campbell for breach of contract and her testimony is questioned by defence lawyer. Naomi Campbell did not want to testify but was subpoenaed. She said she received small diamonds. She did not know they were from Charles Taylor. She gave them to Jeremy Ratcliffe, director of Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, for charity. Mia Farrow said Naomi Campbell said she received a huge diamond. The event took place in 1997. They had attended a dinner hosted by Nelson Mandela.
While mentioning people present Mia Farrow referred to Imran Khan as a soccer player. Imran Khan was a cricket player. Either Mia Farrow was wrongly told Imran Khan as a soccer player, or she did not remember correctly or she did not know the difference between cricket and soccer.
If the prosecution did not prove anything for three years and now wants to prove Charles Taylor gave a blood diamond to Naomi Campbell it has a done a poor job. UN Security Council should have gathered evidence against Charles Taylor before proclaiming him a criminal.
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