Campbell ‘i Have Nothing To Gain From Lying In Court’

NAOMI CAMPBELL has spoken out to address the controversy surrounding her testimony at the trial of ex-Liberian President CHARLES TAYLOR, insisting she has “nothing to gain” from telling anything but the truth.

The supermodel took to the stand in The Hague, Netherlands last week (05Aug10) to give evidence in Taylor’s war crimes trial. He is alleged to have given Campbell blood diamonds - illicit gems sold to finance conflicts - at a dinner party at Nelson Mandela’s home in South Africa in 1997.

The catwalk queen admitted receiving “dirty looking pebbles” from two unknown men but insisted she did not know who they were from.

Actress Mia Farrow and Campbell’s former agent Carole White contradicted her testimony when they took the stand this week (09Aug10), recalling that Campbell had suggested the gems were from the Liberian leader and that she had boasted about the gift at breakfast the following morning.

But, five days after giving evidence, Campbell has defended her testimony.

A statement from the model reads: “I’ve no motive here. Nothing to gain. I am a black woman who has and will always support good causes especially relating to Africa.”

Taylor is accused of using blood diamonds to fund Sierra Leone’s 1991-2002 civil war. He has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges.