at 15:01 on September 27, 2006, EST.

NEW YORK (AP) - Supermodel Naomi Campbell, accused of assaulting her maid with a cellphone, failed to show up in court Wednesday, puzzling the judge who asked for but never got a reason for her absence.

Manhattan Criminal Court Judge James Gibbon responded by issuing a bench warrant for Campbell's arrest, but then decided not to put it into effect after Campbell's attorney explained that he and the prosecutor had an agreement.

Defence attorney David Breitbart told Gibbon the prosecutor knew Campbell was going to be absent and had agreed not to seek her arrest. Gibbon said he would stay the warrant - not put it into effect - until the next court date, Nov. 15.

Outside court, Breitbart said only that the British fashion model's absence was not related to work. He noted that she had not appeared in the New York and Italian fashion shows but declined to say why.

Breitbart also said he has been considering a plea offer from the Manhattan district attorney's office. He wouldn't say what the offer was.

The 35-year-old supermodel was arrested on March 31 for allegedly throwing a cellphone at one of her employees in a dispute over a missing pair of jeans.

Campbell has called the charges "completely untrue." But the housekeeper, Ana Scolavino, was treated for an injury to the back of her head after the incident.

Campbell has a history of anger problems with her employees.


©The Canadian Press, 2006

luv4u said:

Bad coke.