The Verdict of the Diana Inquest, April 2008

[Jo of Palatine]

Maybe this verdict makes anybody happy: the princes and Diana's family because it signals the end to all that - Case closed.
For Fayed because he can twist it in his crazy mind like he wants to and believe that he finally was heard and got a verdict of unlawful death.
Okay, the family of Henri Paul, they must be disappointed but I thought the evidence about him having drunk two Ricards before he drove was enough to explain his part in the accident. Because it is still an accident that happened, the verdict only tells that it is possible to pinpoint the reason for the accident to the behaviour of two parties: Henri Paul's drinking and speeding and the pursuit of the paparazzi.

So may Diana rest in peace now.

[Lakshmi]

I don't like Harry and William mentioned Dodi in this statement about inquest. They try to be so "politically correct" and "nice". Dodi might be a nice guy etc, but he was just a short time lover, never family member, it's sort of tacky to mention him even if they think it is gesture towards Al-Fayed family.
I always believed it was just a fatal crash, and I always blamed paparazzis. I agree some laws should be changed so "reporters" would know that they would be punished for stalking. Such behavior has nothing to do with freedom of press.

[Skydragon]

The various news channels here, all discussing and dissecting the verdict, have said that

'as Mr Al Fayed's spokesman has made clear, he has left open the possibility that he will challenge the verdict'

(Remembered from the best of my ability).

The BBC also had the ex editor of the NotW and Arthur Edwards on, both were saying, when asked why they published pictures taken by these packs, ..... "well we had to, if we didn't they were published in foreign papers and came to us through other means anyway. Of course we would rather not have published those that were clearly pursuit pictures, but if we allowed other publications to get the lead, we would not be very popular" OR WORDS TO THAT EFFECT.

Oh right, as if any of them would be welcomed to my table based on that excuse!

Al Fayed 'considering options' - Yahoo! News UK

Diana Butler Paul Burrell Avoids Perjury Probe Over Inquest |Sky News|UK News

Michael Cole, spokesman for Mohamed al Fayed, immediately responded to the remarks.

He told Sky News the Harrods boss also wanted to "move on" but was nevertheless meeting his legal team today to examine his options.
"Don't you think I do (want to move on)? Don't you think I do?" he said.
"This last six months has been like going through a very, very dark tunnel and the whole of the last 10 years has been terrible.
"Of course we all want to move on but I think there can be no untied up loose ends, but all we're doing today is trying to see if there is anything more that can be done."


Mr Cole went on: "Mohamed doesn't want to perpetuate this thing, he has got no interest in that, it actually takes a great deal out of him.
"But he feels he owes it to his son, he feels he owes it to the Princess and he feels he owes it to the world to actually make every effort to get all the facts out."

Diana Butler Paul Burrell Avoids Perjury Probe Over Inquest |Sky News|UK News
The Princess of Wales's former butler Paul Burrell looks set to escape a perjury probe after the coroner at Diana's inquest said he had no plans to refer him to police

[judith14011]

It seems that Paul Burrell is a non-issue. Yes, he may have committed perjury but is more likely that he did not. In in his own self important mind, he was perpetuating his own ego and ability to make money off of Diana, nothing else.

[BeatrixFan]

Of course he committed perjury. This sends out a message that you can be sleazy, trade off a dead woman, lie in a court and get away with it. Burrell should go down.

[Jo of Palatine]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

Of course he committed perjury. This sends out a message that you can be sleazy, trade off a dead woman, lie in a court and get away with it. Burrell should go down.

Somewhere I read that any citizen of the Uk could go to the police and report Burrell for having committed perjury. It need not be the coroner and while I understand that the Lord Justice does not want to bring up charges against Burrell I wonder if noone else will do it. I would if I could.

[ghost_night554]

Mr. Fayed confuses me, the fact almost every single conspiracy theory can be proven false by the evidence and information we have should be proof enough. I truly hope Fayed doesn't appeal the verdict.

I'm actually am surprised that Trevor Reese-Jones actually survived that accident although he had his seatbelt (or not - rumours that he didn't) on may have saved his life he could have broken his neck from the impact.

I too am still really surprised even to this day that he survived. I guess it was just meant to be.

[Jo of Palatine]

My goodness is this Fayed cheap! And he obviously believes the whole world to be stupid or what?

from the Times: Brown warns Mohamed Al Fayed not to challenge Diana verdict - Times Online

Mr Al Fayed, who has so far spend £15 million of his own fortune pursuing his theories, had told the inquest during his sworn testimony that he would abide by the verdict of the jury.
Today, however, Mr Cole said: "When he made that declaration, it was on the assumption that the jury would be allowed to hear everything. They weren't."

He said that the jury had not been allowed to consider a verdict of murder, and had not heard evidence from either the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh. The paparazzi who chased the black Mercedes limousine at high speed through the streets of Paris also refused to come from France to testify.

"He had no way of knowing so many key French witnesses would refuse to come forward," said Mr Cole."

End of quote.

Now come on, when Fayed said that on oath, he knew exactly that a lot of the paparazzi had refused to testify. That had been known for a long time then... what does he think?

But I'm glad that even the Prime Minister now steps forward and tries to spare the British taxpayer yet another show of Fayed's crazyness at the expense of his voters... Is about time, IMHO:

[TheTruth]

Originally Posted by Lakshmi

I don't like Harry and William mentioned Dodi in this statement about inquest. They try to be so "politically correct" and "nice". Dodi might be a nice guy etc, but he was just a short time lover, never family member, it's sort of tacky to mention him even if they think it is gesture towards Al-Fayed family.

Honestly, I find it normal. Of course, there's no possible comparison between their mother and a man they barely knew but it's very important to mention all the victims. It was reproached that at the time of their death, Dodi was put out of the picture and that only talked about Diana.

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

Of course he committed perjury. This sends out a message that you can be sleazy, trade off a dead woman, lie in a court and get away with it. Burrell should go down.

I share your opinion. It's too easy to let Burrell walk out like that. It's very understandable that this Inquest has been a real headache for the ones taking care of it but now it's like they are in a rush to close it.

[Al_bina]

I truly feel sorry only for Mr.Paul's family. He will be known as a drunk driver, who contributed to Princess Diana's death. This may not be true. We shall never know what really happened in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel. I believe that the whole accident happens to be just a chain of unfortunate events.

[Mermaid1962]

I feel badly for Henri Paul's parents. A jury has decided that their son's negligence caused the death of the world's most famous woman. This must be a terrible blow to them.

[TheTruth]

It's always unfair when other people must face the blame instead of the true guilty person. In this case, Henri Paul's parents had to receive the verdict and they are the ones to pay for their son's mistake. And all the paparazzi are paying the price for only a few who went too far.

[Al_bina]

I for one think that Mr. Paul's parents did in fact expect that their son would be the one to blame as he was the driver. Miracles of exoneration from any charges in cases involving public rich people happen in films only.

[Mermaid1962]

I agree with what you say, Al bina and TheTruth, about Henri Paul's parents being in some way prepared for the verdict. I think, though, that to see their son's name in print as being responsible for the accident would bring things home to them in a whole new way.

[Mermaid1962]

I certainly hope so, Roslyn. It's definitely up to the papers and magazines not to publish paparazzi photos, because people will buy whatever's published.

Originally Posted by Roslyn

I have a feeling some good could come of that finding about the role of the paparazzi.

[tinkerbell1948]

And the saga continues

Diana inquest: It will always be murder to Fayed, as he hints that his fight is STILL not over | the Daily Mail

[Elspeth]

"Don't confuse me with facts, I know how I feel..."

Sigh. Not surprising, but still.