Campbell R. Bridges Explained

Campbell R. Bridges (1937 – 11 August 2009) was a Scottish-born Kenyan gemologist.[1]

Bridges, originally from Scotland, lived in Kenya with his family and regularly mined for rare gemstones with his son Bruce Bridges.[2] The discovery of the green variety of garnet known as tsavorite and the importation of tanzanite into the west solidified his reputation and led to a consultancy with Tiffany & Co. in 1973.[3] Bridges was attacked by a gang of 20 men armed with clubs, spears, bows and arrows in the town of Voi and died of his injuries on arrival at hospital. He was 71.[4] Kenyan police made an arrest for the murder on 19 August 2009. As of late 2012, the trial of the eight people charged in the crime continues.[5] As of December 2014, murderers Mohammed Dadi Kokane, Alfred Njuruka Makoko, Samuel Mwagainia and James Mwita are sentenced to a total of 160 years in prison by Judge Maureen Odero.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tsavorite Garnet - english . 2008-06-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080610182036/http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/tsavorite.html . 10 June 2008.
  2. News: British Gems Expert Dies in Kenya Gang Attack. Sky News/Yahoo. 13 August 2009. 2008-08-20.
  3. News: Gem expert Campbell Bridges killed by Kenyan mob after mining row. The Times. 13 August 2009. 2009-08-20 . London. Tristan. McConnell.
  4. News: Mob kills UK gems expert in Kenya. BBC News. 13 August 2009. 2009-08-20.
  5. News: In Kenya Bridges Family Waits . . 8 December 2012 . 12 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130106004255/http://www.nationaljeweler.com/nj/colored-stones/a/~30053-In-Kenya-Bridges-family-waits . 6 January 2013 . dead.