Model Naomi fails to appear for assault case

NAOMI CAMPBELL was warned a warrant will be issued for her arrest if she does not show up in court in November, after she failed to turn up for a hearing yesterday.

The British supermodel was supposed to appear at Manhattan Criminal Court over accusations that she threw a mobile phone at her housekeeper’s head.

Her lawyer, David Breitbart, said her absence was not due to professional reasons, but refused to explain further. Mr Breitbart said prosecutors had offered him a plea bargain which he was still considering.

The bench warrant was stayed because prosecutors did not ask for it.

Mr Breitbart had asked to discuss the case privately so press could not hear, but the judge snapped back that under the First Amendment of the US Constitution it had to be on the record.

The judge asked prosecutors incredulously: “The defendant failed to appear and you are not asking for a bench warrant?”

Mr Breitbart said the District Attorney’s office knew in advance that Campbell would not appear.

“There were no surprises today,” he said.

He added: “I have to make a decision after an offer of a plea deal is made whether to accept it or not to accept it and go to trial.”

He would not say whether Campbell, 36, was currently in America.

But asked whether her absence was for professional reasons he added: “She didn’t appear in the New York show or the Italian show so the answer is, it’s not a professional commitment.”

He refused to discuss whether a health problem had kept Campbell away.

Prosecutors told the court that discussions on a possible plea bargain were continuing and the case was adjourned until November 15th.

A bench warrant was stayed, but Judge James Gibbons said that if Campbell did not show on the new date, it would take effect.

“I want to make it clear that she is absolutely obliged to appear at the next hearing,” he said.

“If she fails to appear on that court date, the warrant will go into effect.”

She could face up to seven years in prison and deportation if convicted.

The Streatham-born model was arrested in March after her maid, Ana Scolavino, claims she threw a mobile phone — said to be a jewel-encrusted BlackBerry — at her after accusing her of stealing the jeans she wanted to wear to appear on Oprah Winfrey’s TV show.

Police said Mrs Scolavino needed four stitches after the alleged attack.

Mr Breitbart said he would have explained Campbell’s absence to the judge had he been allowed to speak to him in private.

He had argued that the catwalk star’s privacy should be protected.

“The press has been all over this girl,” he told Judge Gibbons.

“There are hundreds of photographers outside.”

But the judge replied: “It is precisely because of the First Amendment that I prefer to discuss it on the record.”

He asked Mr Breitbart: “If we adjourn it can you assure me that the defendant would appear next time?”

Mr Breitbart said he could. Campbell must continue to stay away from Mrs Scolavino and try to contact her.

In a statement after her arrest, Campbell said the claim that she hit the woman was “completely untrue”.