Campbell: 'Nothing to gain' by lying

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Supermodel Naomi Campbell said she has testified truthfully at the war crimes trial of former Liberian leader Charles Taylor and had "nothing to gain" by lying.

In a statement released in London Tuesday, Campbell stood by her testimony, which has been disputed in testimony by U.S. actress Mia Farrow and Campbell's former agent, Carole White, The Guardian reported.

"I've no motive here (for lying), nothing to gain," Campbell's statement said. "I am a black woman who has and will always support good causes, especially relating to Africa."

Farrow testified Monday that Campbell told her Taylor had given her a diamond after a charity dinner hosted by former South African President Nelson Mandela at his presidential palace 13 years ago. Farrow said Taylor, a diamond trader, had sent Campbell a "huge diamond" and she planned to donate it to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.

That contracted Campbell's testimony last week that she received diamonds but didn't know who they came from.

White testified Campbell and Taylor seemed to be flirting during the dinner and that Campbell confided, "He's going to give me some diamonds." Campbell, White said, had no doubt Taylor had rough diamonds sent to her.

Prosecutors at Taylor's war crimes trial at The Hague, Netherlands, said they hope to prove he lied under oath when he testified he never had any "conflict diamonds" or traded them for weapons to support rebels in Sierra Leone during the country's bloody civil war.

In court Tuesday, Taylor defense lawyer Courtenay Griffiths called White's account about the diamonds a "complete pack of lies" and suggested the former agent lied to try to get more money in a breach-of-contract lawsuit against Campbell.

"Bluntly, for you, this is all about money," Griffiths said, speaking of White.

White responded: "It is totally the truth. It has nothing whatsoever to do with my business argument with Naomi Campbell."