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Supermodel Naomi Campbell charged with assault

Friday, March 31, 2006

(New York-WABC, March 31, 2006) -- Supermodel Naomi Campbell is speaking out about her latest brush with the law. She is accused of assaulting her housekeeper and throwing a cell phone at her face.

She is accused of assaulting her housekeeper and throwing a cell phone at her face. On Thursday night, Campbell was released on $3,500 bail.

Eyewitness News reporter Charles Perez is in Lower Manhattan with the story.

Her attorney went before the judge calling her the most famous model in the world and said that $3,500 dollars bail was an insult to Naomi Campbell and that the judge should set her free without bail. Well, the judge didn't buy it, she posted the bail and walked out of the courthouse.

It's not the fashion runway, but it is the way out of Manhattan Criminal Court. Tonight, I asked Naomi Campbell about the judge and she answered by calling the case extortion.

"She was wonderful, New York Police have been wonderful ... extortion, I hope it never happens again," Campbell said.

Extortion from Ana Scolavino, who police say was struck by Campbell in her Park Avenue apartment Thursday morning with a cell phone, requiring four staples to close the wound in her head.

Campbell had allegedly accused the housekeeper of stealing a pair of jeans she was preparing to wear for an appearance on Oprah.

US Weekly's Bradley Jacobs isn't surprised: "This is classic Naomi Campbell behavior. She's done it before, it's nothing new."

In 2000, a former assistant accused Campbell of hitting her with a phone. In 2001, another assistant accused Campbell of throwing a cell phone at her. Campbell was then ordered to take anger management class.

On Thursday night, she stood before a judge and freed on $3,500 dollars bail and allowed to keep her passport, critical according to her attorney, to maintain a well above seven figure income.

For Campbell, the incident was allegedly about retribution.

Jacobs: "Naomi Campbell's publicist said she believes this is some kind of retribution by the housekeeper for being fired just this morning. She feels the housekeeper might be striking back at Naomi."

That judge issued an order of protection for the housekeeper and told Naomi Campbell if she violates it, she will be prosecuted for criminal contempt.

Campbell issued a statement late Thursday night saying the allegations are "not true."

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