BBC seeks to cover up Diana’s murder

2006-12-21

Richard Moore

Original source URL:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6179275.stm

Diana death a 'tragic accident'

An official UK police inquiry into the Paris car crash which killed Princess 
Diana and Dodi Al Fayed has found no evidence the couple were murdered.

Lord Stevens, who led the three-year investigation, said the 1997 crash was a 
"tragic accident".

The inquiry report said chauffeur Henri Paul, who also died, was speeding and 
over the legal drink-drive limit.

A spokesman for Mr Al Fayed's father said he does not accept the findings as 
questions remain "unanswered".

Michael Cole said it was "highly unsatisfactory" that up to 18 key witnesses to 
the crash were not interviewed by the Metropolitan Police's inquiry into the 
death.

He called for next year's inquests to be heard before a jury so that the 
evidence presented by Lord Stevens could be "thoroughly tested".

The princess, 36, and Mr Al Fayed, 42, died when their Mercedes crashed in the 
Pont de l'Alma tunnel in August 1997.

"There was no conspiracy to murder any of the occupants of that car," Lord 
Stevens said.

The findings - contained within an 832 page document - form part of the inquest 
into the deaths of the couple.

Mr Al Fayed's father, Mohamed, said the £3.69m spent on the Stevens inquiry was 
a total waste.

"I feel sorry for the taxpayers and the money that has been wasted on such 
garbage," he said.

"Whatever it's going to cost me, if it costs me the last penny in my purse, I'm 
not going to rest until I get the gangsters."

Mr Al Fayed said he would "definitely" accept a verdict by an inquest jury if it
heard all the evidence.

Lord Stevens told a news conference in London the report addresses the key 
issues emerging from a "most complex and challenging" investigation.

"I have no doubt that speculation as to what happened that night will continue 
and that there are some matters, as in many other investigations, about which we
may never find a definitive answer."

The evidence suggests Princess Diana was not engaged or about to get engaged and
scientific tests showed she was not pregnant, he said.

"We have spoken to many of her family and closest friends and none of them have 
indicated to us that she was either about to or wished to get engaged," he said.

"Prince William has confirmed to me that his mother had not given him the 
slightest indication about such plans for the future."

Some 400 people, including Prince Charles, the Duke of Edinburgh and the heads 
of MI5 and MI6, were interviewed or contacted by the inquiry.

Referring to claims by Mohamed Al Fayed, the report said there was no evidence 
of a connection between the Duke of Edinburgh and MI6.

Mr Stevens said the various legal cases currently being pursued by Mr Al Fayed 
through the French courts are "unlikely, in my opinion, to have any bearing on 
my conclusion that there was no conspiracy or cover up".

He was satisfied US intelligence services had made no attempt to hold back 
information that could have altered the inquiry's conclusions.

"I very much hope that all the work we have done and the publication of this 
report will help to bring some closure to all who continue to mourn the deaths 
of Diana, Princess of Wales, Dodi Al Fayed and Henri Paul," said Lord Stevens.

Clarence House said later that Princes William and Harry hope the "conclusive 
findings" of the report will end speculation surrounding their mother's death.

Paparazzi pursuit

Harrods department store owner Mohamed Al Fayed does want closure, spokesman Mr 
Cole told a news conference.

"He wants to think back on the summer of 1997 as a happy time, with his family 
and Diana's family together and everybody so content in their own company.

"But he does feel that he has a solemn duty as a parent to reveal the facts as 
he believes them to be."

The crash took place as the couple were pursued by paparazzi photographers 
during the drive from the Ritz hotel to Mr Al Fayed's flat.

A French investigation into the crash concluded Mr Paul had lost control of the 
car because he was driving too fast while under the influence of alcohol and 
prescription drugs.

Meanwhile, lawyers for bodyguard Trevor Rees, the sole survivor of the crash, 
said he will not be making any comment on the report or the inquest.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/6179275.stm

Published: 2006/12/14 17:54:33 GMT

© BBC MMVI
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