Campbell R. Bridges

{{Short description|Scottish-born Kenyan gemologist}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2012}}

Campbell R. Bridges (1937 – 11 August 2009) was a Scottish-born Kenyan gemologist.{{cite web |url=http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/tsavorite.html |title=Tsavorite Garnet - english |accessdate=2008-06-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610182036/http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/tsavorite.html |archivedate=10 June 2008}}

Bridges, originally from Scotland, lived in Kenya with his family and regularly mined for rare gemstones with his son Bruce Bridges.{{Cite news

|url=http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090813/twl-british-gems-expert-dies-in-kenya-ga-3fd0ae9.html

|title=British Gems Expert Dies in Kenya Gang Attack

|publisher=Sky News/Yahoo

|date=13 August 2009

|accessdate=2008-08-20

}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} 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.{{Cite news

|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6793699.ece

|title=Gem expert Campbell Bridges killed by Kenyan mob after mining row

|work=The Times

|date=13 August 2009

|accessdate=2009-08-20

| location=London

| first=Tristan

| last=McConnell}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{Wikinews|British gemstone expert killed by mob in Voi, Kenya}}

{{Wikinews|Arrest made over murder of UK gemstone expert in Kenya}}

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.{{cite news

|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8198630.stm

|title=Mob kills UK gems expert in Kenya

|work=BBC News

|date=13 August 2009

|accessdate=2009-08-20

}} 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.{{cite news

|url = http://www.nationaljeweler.com/nj/colored-stones/a/~30053-In-Kenya-Bridges-family-waits

|title = In Kenya Bridges Family Waits

|publisher = National Jeweler

|date = 8 December 2012

|access-date = 12 August 2013

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130106004255/http://www.nationaljeweler.com/nj/colored-stones/a/~30053-In-Kenya-Bridges-family-waits

|archive-date = 6 January 2013

|url-status = dead}} 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.

References

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