SOUTH AFRICA: Former Nelson Mandela Children's Fund trustee Jeremy Ratcliffe cleared in 'blood diamond' trial
Record ID:
452905
SOUTH AFRICA: Former Nelson Mandela Children's Fund trustee Jeremy Ratcliffe cleared in 'blood diamond' trial
- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Former Nelson Mandela Children's Fund trustee Jeremy Ratcliffe cleared in 'blood diamond' trial
- Date: 16th June 2011
- Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 15, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE ALEXANDRA MAGISTRATE COURT JOURNALISTS OUTSIDE THE COURT ACCUSED JEREMY RATCLIFFE WITH HIS LAWYERS WALKING OUT OF COURT (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER NELSON MANDELA CHILDREN'S FUND DIRECTOR JEREMY RATCLIFFE SAYING: "I've always thought I was innocent and it's very nice to have this proven, it's taken some time, but yes, I'm very happy." FORMER NELSON MANDELA CHILDREN'S FUND DIRECTOR JEREMY RATCLIFFE ADDRESSING THE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER NELSON MANDELA CHILDREN'S FUND DIRECTOR JEREMY RATCLIFFE SAYING: "Keeping them for that point of time was waiting for, perhaps something that would allow something to happen and life has a way of doing that, but in the end of course we went to, we offered to go to at the Hague on the fact that Naomi had to give evidence on that." MORE OF JEREMY RATCLIFFE ADDRESSING THE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) JEREMY RATCLIFFE'S LAWYER NICHOLAS TAITZ SAYING: "We believe that the court finding today has simply confirmed what we thought all along, the state did not prove that the items in question were diamonds and Mr Ratcliffe was rightly acquitted. We believe that justice has been done." JEREMY RATCLIFFE TALKING TO HIS WIFE AND LEGAL TEAM JEREMY RATCLIFFE AND HIS WIFE LEAVING
- Embargoed: 1st July 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa, South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVADP1M8Z7RNPCIC254RVU6OSZ2X
- Story Text: Former Nelson Mandela Children's Fund trustee Jeremy Ratcliffe was found not guilty on a charge of possession of uncut diamonds in Alexandra Magistrate's Court, South Africa, on Wednesday (June 15).
Speaking to reporters outside the court in Johannesburg, Ratcliffe said he was delighted with the court's ruling.
"I've always thought I was innocent and it's very nice to have this proven, it's taken some time, but yes, I'm very happy," said Ratcliffe.
The trial was postponed on Monday (June 13) after power cuts hit Gauteng. The court in Alexandra was forced to put another hold on Ratcliffe's trial as the area entered its fourth day without electricity.
Magistrate Renier Boshoff told Ratcliffe that he was found not guilty as the court couldn't prove beyond reasonable doubt that he is guilty.
"Keeping them for that point of time was waiting for, perhaps something that would allow something to happen and life has a way of doing that but in the end of course we went to, we offered to go to at the Hague on the fact that Naomi had to give evidence on that," said Ratcliffe.
International model Noami Campbell testified at The Hague war crimes tribunal last year that she thought it was former Liberian president Charles Taylor who had given her a bag of diamonds, which, it was argued were "blood diamonds."
Ratcliffe's lawyer Nicholas Taitz said he believed that Ratcliffe was rightly acquitted, and justice had been done.
"We believe that the court finding today has simply confirmed what we thought all along, the state did not prove that the items in question were diamonds and Mr. Ratcliffe was rightly acquitted. We believe that justice has been done," said Taitz.
Ratcliffe subsequently handed the stones to police after Campbell testified at the war crimes tribunal. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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