ID :
135979
Tue, 08/03/2010 - 17:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/135979
The shortlink copeid
IT MIGHT BE INTERESTING
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/
From foreign press
The spotlight in Charles Taylor's war crimes trial shifts Thursday to supermodel Naomi Campbell when she testifies about an uncut diamond he allegedly sent to her room after they met at a 1997 dinner.
Prosecutors say the feisty model's evidence will disprove the former Liberian president's claim that he never possessed rough diamonds, but Taylor's lawyer says it is "nothing but a cheap publicity stunt".
"Already the public gallery, we are told, is packed out. It has never been the case throughout the proceedings," defence lawyer Courtenay Griffiths told AFP.
"It (the media attention) will bring to the public mind again all the negative things said about Charles Taylor over the years," he claimed of the prosecution's motive.
Taylor's defence has applied to the Special Court for Sierra Leone for a last-minute delay of 40-year-old Campbell's testimony, saying they had not been given a summary of her evidence and could not prepare a response. A decision may only be given on the day of the scheduled hearing.
Prosecutors claim that Taylor, 62, had men deliver a so-called "blood diamond" to Campbell's room after he met the model at a celebrity dinner hosted by then South African president Nelson Mandela in 1997. It is relevant because Taylor, accused of seeking to "take political and physical control of Sierra Leone in order to exploit its abundant natural resources... diamonds", has denied ever dealing in or possessing rough diamonds.
"Ms Campbell is a material witness... as it was to her that the accused chose to give the diamond he supposedly did not have," a prosecution filing states.
Campbell's former agent Carole White and actress Mia Farrow, who both attended the dinner, are to testify about the late-night gift next Monday.
White claims she was present when the diamond was delivered, while Farrow says Campbell told her about it the next morning over breakfast.
Campbell herself has refused to talk to prosecutors, citing fears for her family's safety, which prompted them to get a court subpoena for her testimony.
A spokesman for the court said more than 200 journalists from around the world had sought accreditation for Thursday's hearing. Some will be disappointed, with only 40 seats available in the public gallery of the courtroom and 36 in the media centre.
Taylor has been on trial in The Hague since 2008 on 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his alleged role in the 1991-2001 civil war in Sierra Leone -- accused of arming rebels in return for illegally mined diamonds.
Campbell's testimony, due to open at 9:00 am (0700 GMT) on Thursday, should take "one to two hours", prosecutor Brenda Hollis told AFP, adding that investigators still had "no statements" from the model. Added Griffiths: "We can't see that her evidence has any relevance whatsoever. She has made two public statements to the effect that she has not received any diamond from Mr Taylor whatsoever. This does not support the case they are trying to make. He (Taylor) denies having given her any diamonds."
Campbell's lawyer Gideon Benaim stressed that "Naomi has not done anything wrong".
"She is a witness and not on trial herself. Whilst she would rather not be involved in this case at all, she will nevertheless attend to assist the court as requested," he told AFP in a written response to questions."
xxxx
Singer Susan Boyle and the music of Paul McCartney are to be featured in the new season of TV musical comedy "Glee" -- joining a growing list of performers eager to be associated with the hit show.
"Glee" creator Ryan Murphy told reporters on Monday that Boyle -- who found unexpected fame on the show "Britain's Got Talent" last year -- would feature in a Christmas-themed episode. She is expected to play a high school lunch lady. Boyle is reportedly recording a Christmas album.
Murphy also said that former Beatle McCartney had written suggesting his music be included on the show, which features a bunch of misfits in a high school choir.
"I received some fantastic mixed tapes from Paul McCartney a couple of weeks ago. I thought I was being punked!," Murphy said. "It came out of blue in a package, handwritten, and it had two CDs and it said 'Hi Ryan, I hope you will consider some of these songs for 'Glee' ... I had heard that he is a fan of the show. I was gob-smacked ... so of course we are going to do something with him," Murphy said, without elaborating.
"Glee" has been nominated for 19 Emmys in its first season on television. The Fox show has been sold widely overseas and has spawned more than three hit albums of cover versions of pop, Broadway jazz and rap songs.
One of the episodes in the new season will be filled with the music of Britney Spears, following the success last season of Madonna and Lady Gaga-themed episodes.
Murphy said the cast and crew were studying Spears' music videos, her public appearances and album covers to familiarize themselves with her iconic looks.
There will be just one other episode next season dedicated to a single artist -- a tribute in February to what Murphy called "a musical artist that we are in negotiation for." He did not elaborate but the artist is widely thought to be the late Michael Jackson.
Murphy said that season 2 would see more focus on characters, particularly those of minor players such as ditzy cheerleader Brittany, Asian student Tina and the father of gay teen Kurt.
"We are scaling back a little bit (on music) and concentrating on the stories and doing just five or six songs per episode," he said.
The new season of "Glee" starts on the Fox network on September 21.
From foreign press
The spotlight in Charles Taylor's war crimes trial shifts Thursday to supermodel Naomi Campbell when she testifies about an uncut diamond he allegedly sent to her room after they met at a 1997 dinner.
Prosecutors say the feisty model's evidence will disprove the former Liberian president's claim that he never possessed rough diamonds, but Taylor's lawyer says it is "nothing but a cheap publicity stunt".
"Already the public gallery, we are told, is packed out. It has never been the case throughout the proceedings," defence lawyer Courtenay Griffiths told AFP.
"It (the media attention) will bring to the public mind again all the negative things said about Charles Taylor over the years," he claimed of the prosecution's motive.
Taylor's defence has applied to the Special Court for Sierra Leone for a last-minute delay of 40-year-old Campbell's testimony, saying they had not been given a summary of her evidence and could not prepare a response. A decision may only be given on the day of the scheduled hearing.
Prosecutors claim that Taylor, 62, had men deliver a so-called "blood diamond" to Campbell's room after he met the model at a celebrity dinner hosted by then South African president Nelson Mandela in 1997. It is relevant because Taylor, accused of seeking to "take political and physical control of Sierra Leone in order to exploit its abundant natural resources... diamonds", has denied ever dealing in or possessing rough diamonds.
"Ms Campbell is a material witness... as it was to her that the accused chose to give the diamond he supposedly did not have," a prosecution filing states.
Campbell's former agent Carole White and actress Mia Farrow, who both attended the dinner, are to testify about the late-night gift next Monday.
White claims she was present when the diamond was delivered, while Farrow says Campbell told her about it the next morning over breakfast.
Campbell herself has refused to talk to prosecutors, citing fears for her family's safety, which prompted them to get a court subpoena for her testimony.
A spokesman for the court said more than 200 journalists from around the world had sought accreditation for Thursday's hearing. Some will be disappointed, with only 40 seats available in the public gallery of the courtroom and 36 in the media centre.
Taylor has been on trial in The Hague since 2008 on 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his alleged role in the 1991-2001 civil war in Sierra Leone -- accused of arming rebels in return for illegally mined diamonds.
Campbell's testimony, due to open at 9:00 am (0700 GMT) on Thursday, should take "one to two hours", prosecutor Brenda Hollis told AFP, adding that investigators still had "no statements" from the model. Added Griffiths: "We can't see that her evidence has any relevance whatsoever. She has made two public statements to the effect that she has not received any diamond from Mr Taylor whatsoever. This does not support the case they are trying to make. He (Taylor) denies having given her any diamonds."
Campbell's lawyer Gideon Benaim stressed that "Naomi has not done anything wrong".
"She is a witness and not on trial herself. Whilst she would rather not be involved in this case at all, she will nevertheless attend to assist the court as requested," he told AFP in a written response to questions."
xxxx
Singer Susan Boyle and the music of Paul McCartney are to be featured in the new season of TV musical comedy "Glee" -- joining a growing list of performers eager to be associated with the hit show.
"Glee" creator Ryan Murphy told reporters on Monday that Boyle -- who found unexpected fame on the show "Britain's Got Talent" last year -- would feature in a Christmas-themed episode. She is expected to play a high school lunch lady. Boyle is reportedly recording a Christmas album.
Murphy also said that former Beatle McCartney had written suggesting his music be included on the show, which features a bunch of misfits in a high school choir.
"I received some fantastic mixed tapes from Paul McCartney a couple of weeks ago. I thought I was being punked!," Murphy said. "It came out of blue in a package, handwritten, and it had two CDs and it said 'Hi Ryan, I hope you will consider some of these songs for 'Glee' ... I had heard that he is a fan of the show. I was gob-smacked ... so of course we are going to do something with him," Murphy said, without elaborating.
"Glee" has been nominated for 19 Emmys in its first season on television. The Fox show has been sold widely overseas and has spawned more than three hit albums of cover versions of pop, Broadway jazz and rap songs.
One of the episodes in the new season will be filled with the music of Britney Spears, following the success last season of Madonna and Lady Gaga-themed episodes.
Murphy said the cast and crew were studying Spears' music videos, her public appearances and album covers to familiarize themselves with her iconic looks.
There will be just one other episode next season dedicated to a single artist -- a tribute in February to what Murphy called "a musical artist that we are in negotiation for." He did not elaborate but the artist is widely thought to be the late Michael Jackson.
Murphy said that season 2 would see more focus on characters, particularly those of minor players such as ditzy cheerleader Brittany, Asian student Tina and the father of gay teen Kurt.
"We are scaling back a little bit (on music) and concentrating on the stories and doing just five or six songs per episode," he said.
The new season of "Glee" starts on the Fox network on September 21.
