The model Naomi Campbell has been granted restrictive privacy measures to protect her appearance at a war crimes trial this week. The measures are normally reserved for individuals who fear violent recriminations over giving evidence.

They include a ban on the public and media filming her entering or leaving the Special Court for Sierra Leone in the Hague or reporting anything about her activity in the court building bar her public testimony.

An application to allow Campbell's lawyer to accompany her during her testimony to prevent self-incrimination was also granted.

The model will be appearing as a witness in the trial of Charles Taylor, former president of Liberia tomorrow. He is accused of employing child soldiers and for selling arms to rebels in Sierra Leone in return for the precious jewels. It is alleged that Campbell accepted such a diamond as a gift from Taylor at Nelson Mandela's house in South Africa in the 1990s, an allegation she denies.

According to reports, in agreeing to these restrictions yesterday the Special Court for Sierra Leone said: "There are legitimate grounds of concern for Ms Campbell's security and privacy by virtue of her public persona and the extremely intense media scrutiny relating to her anticipated testimony."

The court refused Campbell's application for restrictions on reporting or photographing her wider movements within the Netherlands as such an order was outside their jurisdiction.

See the full court decision at this link [PDF].

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