Diana Inquest Verdict Made: ‘Killed Unlawfully’
The Diana inquest was finished yesterday when jurors found that the Princess of Wales and Dodi Fayed “were unlawfully killed by the reckless driving of their chauffeur, Henri Paul, and the paparazzi who chased them,” the UK Guardian reports.
Paul was revealed during the inquest to have been three times over the French blood alcohol limit, with blood tests and other samples.
Princes William and Harry were present to hear the verdict, and later thanked the jury for the “thorough way in which they have considered the evidence”.
“We agree with their verdicts,” the Princes stated, “and are both hugely grateful to each and every one of them for the forbearance they have shown in accepting such significant disruption to their lives over the past six months.”
The Princes said they were also grateful to the people who came forward with evidence, and to “all those who fought so desperately to save our mother’s life on that tragic night.”
Mohamed Al Fayed, Dodi’s father, said he was “disappointed” by the verdict. He believed that his son and the Princess had been killed deliberately, as part of a conspiracy involving the royal family and MI6.
During the six-month inquest, more than 240 witness testified. It is estimated to have cost upwards of £10m.
