Naomi Campbell up before the beak

Updated Battling supermodel Naomi Campbell is finally up before the beak today in a New York court on a second degree assault rap, The Evening Standard reports. The appearance follows a no-show last September which nearly resulted in the judge issuing a warrant for her arrest.

Campbell, 36, is accused of assaulting her housekeeper with a mobile phone. The incident occurred as Campbell was "dressing to get ready for an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey TV show". She couldn't find her jeans and accused Ana Scolavino of stealing her clothes.

District attorney Elina Kreditor told the original court hearing: "As she [Scolavino] was walking downstairs the defendant threw a cell phone at her head."

If convicted, Campbell faces a possible seven years' chokey and deportation. The most likely outcome is community service, but her defense attorney David Breitbart has already declared that she doesn't much fancy cleaning the streets in the style of Boy George. Rather, he suggested she might "spend the time at an Aids charity doing tasks like holding a fashion and makeup workshop".

The judge, according to The Evening Standard, wasn't much taken with this idea, but Breitbart reckons a higher power may intervene to save the Streatham clotheshorse from ritual public humiliation. "Naomi believes that God is on her side," he said, adding: "She believes very strongly in God and she feels that he is going to take care of her."

Breitbart yesterday confirmed he'd be in court today for The People versus Naomi Campbell/God. ®

Update

Campbell this afternoon pleaded guilty to "reckless assault" in a plea bargain with prosecutors, the BBC reports. According to Associated Press, she was ordered to "pay Scolavino's medical expenses of $363, do five days of community service and attend an anger management class".

In case you were wondering, AP adds: "The British model wore stiletto heels and a tight-fitting black dress and waist length jacket for her court appearance."