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Naomi Campbell Blood Diamonds Trial Now More Heated

10/3/2010 7:50:55 AM  Simona Kogan

Naomi Campbell's rumored blood diamonds may have caused her trouble in the past but she has now passed the trouble on to somebody else.  Jeremy Ratcliffe, the man who took stones from the supermodel in 1997, has been charged with illegal possession of uncut diamonds.

Though the former trustee of Nelson Madela's Children's Fund Charity has appeared in a Johannesburg court, Ratcliffe's attorney has requested the case be postponed until October 27.  He was released on a warning until the end of the month so that his attornies will have time to come up with something to present to the National Director of Public Prosecutions. 

Ratcliffe admitted he possessed the diamonds that were reportedly given to Campbell by representatives of former Liberian preisdent Charles Taylor, who is on trial at The Hague in the Netherlands for possessing blood diamonds that were used to fund rebels in Sierra Leone.  His representatives allegedly gave Campbell the diamonds during a dinner party for former South African president Nelson Mandela.  Campbell admitted that she did not know what "conflict diamonds were" or who Charles Taylor was.

Ratcliffe confessed he had the rough diamonds for over 10 years because he didn't want to involve the charity in illegal activity and resigned from his position on the board of the Children's Fund after he admitted the news.   He later resigned from his position as chief executive officer. The conflict diamonds were given to the police.



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