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Top lawyer says Princess Diana 'was killed after plan to frighten her went wrong' - Printable Version +- Deep Politics Forum (https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora) +-- Forum: Deep Politics Forum (https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/forumdisplay.php?fid=1) +--- Forum: Black Operations (https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/forumdisplay.php?fid=9) +--- Thread: Top lawyer says Princess Diana 'was killed after plan to frighten her went wrong' (/showthread.php?tid=3309) |
Top lawyer says Princess Diana 'was killed after plan to frighten her went wrong' - Magda Hassan - 23-07-2011 Wonder if they'll get theAssange treatment or if that is just for Assange....? PRINCESS DIANA POLICE FACE ARRESTQuote: ![]() Princess Diana predicted that she would be killed
Friday July 22,2011 By [B]Cyril Dixon, Padraic Flanagan and Mark Reynolds[/B] Have your say(48)Britain's leading former police officers are wanted for questioning over allegations that they withheld crucial evidence about the car crash which killed Princess Diana. A French judge wants to ask ex-Yard chief Lord Condon and Sir David Veness why they failed to disclose the existence of a note in which she predicted her assassination. They could face international arrest warrants as suspects should they refuse to attend interviews in Paris, sources close to the investigation indicated last night. The note, taken by Diana's lawyer Lord Mishcon, was handed to the officers a few months after the 1997 Paris tunnel crash which also claimed the lives of Diana's boyfriend Dodi Fayed, son of tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed, and the pair's chauffeur Henri Paul. The highly-respected lawyer's document records the line: "Efforts would be made if not to get rid of her (be it by some accident in her car, such as a pre-prepared brake failure or whatever)...at least to see that she was so injured or damaged as to be declared unbalanced." It was more than three years later before it emerged that the officers had locked the note in Lord Condon's safe at Scotland Yard. When Lord Condon stood down as the Metropolitan Police Commissioner his successor as Met Commissioner, Lord Stevens, continued to keep its existence a secret. Under French law, "removing or concealing" evidence, which could "facilitate the discovery of a crime", is punishable by three to five years in jail or a fine. Now Paris-based Judge Gerard Caddeo is locked in a protracted battle with British authorities over his demand for interviews with Lord Condon and Sir David, a former assistant commissioner. The explosive development means that the issue of whether the fatal crash in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris was an accident or murder is likely to be once more the subject of a controversial court case. source close to the Paris inquiry said: "Everyone assumed that with the end of the British inquest, the investigation into Diana and Dodi's deaths was closed. "But this has blown it wide open again. Judge Caddeo is determined to get to the bottom of what happened with the Mishcon note. "The French courts will not allow this matter to rest and it is understood that if Lord Condon and Sir David refuse to attend Paris for an interview then Judge Caddeo will not hesitate to issue international warrants of arrest." At his home in Kent yesterday, Lord Condon refused to comment in detail on the Diana letter. "I have not been asked to go to Paris," he said. "There was discussion of all these things at the inquest and if there is anything else, you will have to speak to the legal affairs department at Scotland Yard. This is not the time or place for this." A Yard spokesman said: "We are not prepared to comment we would have to refer you to the French authorities." The Daily Express understands that Judge Caddeo has been engaged in lengthy exchanges with Sylvie Petit-Leclair, a judge attached jointly to the French Embassy in London and the Home Office who assists in cross-Channel legal issues. He has also written to a Home Office official, whose name is known to this paper, demanding she assist his bid to interview the officers. The Daily Express also understands that he has twice sent the same Home Office official International Letters Rogatory' formal requests from a court to a foreign court for judicial assistance in which he names Lord Condon and Sir David as suspects. He also names Lord Stevens as a person he wishes to question. Judge Caddeo's papers summarise the crucial accusation that Scotland Yard and the British Embassy in Paris concealed the note made by Lord Mishcon from the French authorities investigating the crash. The note would have made it more likely that the French would have opened a murder inquiry. He states that the note reported that the Princess had been "informed by sources worthy of her trust" that an attempt was being made to "eliminate her in an orchestrated automobile accident." Diana died on August 31, 1997, after the Mercedes she and Dodi Fayed were travelling in crashed following a high-speed chase as they tried to evade photographers. A French investigation concluded that the crash was caused by driver Henri Paul, acting security manager of the Paris Ritz, losing control of the car at high speed while intoxicated. But the investigating authorities were unaware British police had the late Lord Mishcon's note. http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/260394 Top lawyer says Princess Diana 'was killed after plan to frighten her went wrong' - Peter Lemkin - 23-07-2011 The UK seems to be at meltdown point over a number of matters......this is a most welcome development in the Grand Cover-up of Diana's MURDER! Between this, some other recent events [man in North Face Bag et al], Kelly, and Murdoch, the British Police from Scottland Yard down now seem more like Keystone Cops on the take - and more likely to be involved in cover-up [or commission] of crimes, than in getting to the bottom of them~!~~~~ Top lawyer says Princess Diana 'was killed after plan to frighten her went wrong' - Bernice Moore - 23-07-2011 http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-06-28/gossip/29731887_1_princess-diana-harrods-owner-mohamed-al-fayed Mark Lane defends Diana film should be shown... Top lawyer says Princess Diana 'was killed after plan to frighten her went wrong' - Magda Hassan - 25-08-2011 Very interesting interview in the bottom video link. Quote:French authorities may seek an international arrest warrant for two former police chiefs, who withheld a prophetic note in which Princess Diana seemingly predicted her assassination by car crash.[1] Something she stated on more than one occasion. Top lawyer says Princess Diana 'was killed after plan to frighten her went wrong' - Peter Lemkin - 25-08-2011 Amazing interview and no doubt investigation and book! A must see video! Diana was murdered....that simple....this guy seems to have seen through all the fog of intel warriors! Bravo! :dancingman:
Top lawyer says Princess Diana 'was killed after plan to frighten her went wrong' - Magda Hassan - 02-07-2012 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/news/nol/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/14_12_06_diana_report.pdf INDEX Introduction Chapter One Relationship / Engagement / Pregnancy Chapter Two Perceived Threats To The Princess Of Wales Chapter Three Actions Of The Paparazzi In Paris Chapter Four Henri Paul - Ritz Security Officer And Driver Of The Mercedes Car Chapter Five CCTV / Traffic Cameras In Paris Chapter Six Mercedes Car Chapter Seven Blocking Vehicles / Unidentified Vehicles / Bright Flashes (The Journey To The Alma Underpass) Chapter Eight Post-Crash Medical Treatment Of The Princess Of Wales Chapter Nine The Embalming Of The Body Of The Princess Of Wales At The Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital Chapter Ten Actions Of The French Authorities Chapter Eleven Actions Of The Foreign & Commonwealth Office / British Embassy, Paris Chapter Twelve British Authorities' Actions With Regard To Suspicious Deaths' Chapter Thirteen Bodyguards Of Mohamed Al Fayed (Trevor Rees-Jones, Kieran Wingfield And Reuben Murrell) Chapter Fourteen James' Andanson French Photojournalist And Owner Of A White Fiat Uno Chapter Fifteen Central Intelligence Agency / National Security Agency, USA Chapter Sixteen The Secret Intelligence Service And The Security Service INTRODUCTION This police report documents the findings of the criminal investigation into an allegation made by Mohamed Al Fayed of conspiracy to murder the Princess of Wales and his son Dodi Al Fayed. The Coroner of the Queen's Household and H.M. Coroner for Surrey, Michael Burgess, also requested this investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to help him decide whether such matters would fall within the scope of the investigation carried out at the inquests. (Coroner's remarks at the opening of the inquests, 6 January 2004.) The opening of the inquests had been delayed until then because of ongoing legal proceedings in France. A further report (commonly referred to as the Coroner's report') will be prepared by police specifically for the inquest process. An inquest is an inquiry intended to produce a formal answer to four questions: (i) Who the deceased was. (ii) When he/she came by his/her death. (iii) Where he/she came by his/her death. (iv) How he/she came by his/her death. The police crime investigation will, as is usual practice, remain open until the conclusion of any inquest or other judicial process. Operation Paget will take account of evidence given at, or provided in connection with, any hearing. Background On Saturday 30 August 1997, the Princess of Wales arrived in Paris with Emad ElDin Mohamed Abdel Moneim Fayed (Dodi Al Fayed), the son of Mohamed Al Fayed. They had stopped there en route to London, having spent the preceding nine days together on board Mohamed Al Fayed's yacht, the Jonikal', on the French and Italian Riviera. They had intended to stay overnight. Mohamed Al Fayed was and is the owner of the Ritz Hotel in Place Vendôme, Paris. He also owned an apartment in rue Arsène Houssaye, a short distance from the hotel and located just off the avenue des Champs-Elysées. At around 12.20am on Sunday 31 August 1997, the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed left the Ritz Hotel to return to the apartment in rue Arsène Houssaye. They were the rear passengers in a Mercedes S280 car driven by Henri Paul, the Acting Head of Security at the Ritz Hotel. Trevor Rees-Jones, Dodi Al Fayed's bodyguard, was in the front passenger seat. Page 1 INTRODUCTION They left from the rear of the hotel, the rue Cambon exit. After crossing the Place de la Concorde they drove along Cours la Reine and Cours Albert 1er (the embankment road running parallel to the River Seine) into the Place de l'Alma underpass. The Mercedes collided with the thirteenth central pillar in the underpass. Dodi Al Fayed and Henri Paul died at the scene. Both were taken directly to the Institut Médico-Légal (IML), the Paris mortuary, not to a hospital. The Princess of Wales, who was seriously injured but still alive after the impact, was taken by the emergency services to Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris. Trevor Rees-Jones survived the impact with very serious injuries. He also was taken to the same hospital as the Princess of Wales for emergency treatment. At around 4am, following emergency surgery, the Princess of Wales died. None of the occupants of the car was wearing a seat belt at the time of the impact. The Investigation by the French Authorities The French authorities carried out an investigation into the crash within their own legal and investigative framework. An official of the Paris Public Prosecutor's Department went to the scene of the crash to take control of the initial investigation. This is not uncommon in France. She tasked the Brigade Criminelle section of the Paris Police with the immediate investigation. Seven paparazzi' present at the scene were arrested. The Public Prosecutor's Department asked, on Tuesday 2 September 1997, for these paparazzi to be investigated for failure to render assistance to persons in danger (a specific imprisonable offence in France) and for unnamed persons' to be investigated for involuntary manslaughter and injury. Unnamed persons' is a term used in France when an investigation is opened with no specific, named suspects. On 4 September 1997 another three paparazzi reported to the Brigade Criminelle. They were investigated for the same offences. Following the Public Prosecutor's request for an investigation, an Examining Magistrate, Judge Hervé Stéphan, was appointed to the case. The complexity of the case led to a second Examining Magistrate, Marie-Christine Devidal, being appointed to assist. Under the system of criminal justice in France, Hervé Stéphan was responsible for the direction of the investigation and his authority was needed for any action to be taken. This inquisitorial' system differs from the adversarial' system of criminal justice in this country where the police are, in the main, responsible for directing and carrying out a criminal investigation. Judge Stéphan's investigation attempted to define as fully as possible the sequence of events with a view to determining, at its conclusion, the legal ramifications of any possible liability.' He concluded that there was insufficient evidence against the paparazzi photographers in respect of the offences then being investigated of involuntary manslaughter, injury causing a total incapacity for work in excess of three months and failing to render assistance to persons in danger. Page 2 INTRODUCTION He further concluded there was insufficient evidence against any person for the offences of involuntary manslaughter, injury causing a total incapacity for work in excess of three months or for endangering the life of another. Finally he stated that the offences investigated were not covered under any other (French) criminal legislation. He circulated these conclusions in a Notice of Dismissal' dated 3 September 1999. A number of legal challenges to the investigation and its conclusions were instigated in France. Some of these continue to this day. Response of the United Kingdom Authorities The crash and the three resulting deaths had occurred in France. It was therefore a matter for the French authorities to investigate, even though two of those who died were not French citzens. From the outset, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) acted in a liaison role with the French authorities on behalf of the respective Coroners in England who would be holding inquests into the deaths. Any enquiries carried out by police in the United Kingdom were solely on behalf of the French investigating authorities. Dr John Burton, Coroner of the Queen's Household, assumed responsibility for the body of the Princess of Wales. Michael Burgess, H.M. Coroner for Surrey (and then Deputy Coroner of the Queen's Household) assumed responsibility for the body of Dodi Al Fayed, as he would be laid to rest in the County of Surrey. As a result of ill health Dr Burton retired in 2002 and Michael Burgess took over the role of Coroner of the Queen's Household whilst retaining his role as H.M. Coroner for Surrey. In July 2003, solicitors acting on behalf of Mohamed Al Fayed wrote to Michael Burgess. They stated that the criminal proceedings over which Judge Hervé Stéphan presided had now concluded, following decisions in the Appeal Court in Paris in April 2003. They urged Michael Burgess on behalf of their client to open the inquests and to ensure that in respect of Dodi Al Fayed there is a proper investigation into his death.' The letter contained details of the different strands within the allegation made by Mohamed Al Fayed to support his view that the crash was not an accident but murder and that this murder was the result of a conspiracy by the Establishment' and particularly HRH Prince Philip, who used the Security Services' to carry it out. Michael Burgess informed the MPS of this correspondence and the associated allegation and supporting claims. The MPS was continuing to act as liaison with the French authorities. The MPS considered the status of this allegation in the United Kingdom and its possible effect on the French investigation and conclusions. The French authorities were informed of the detail of the allegation and their view was sought as to whether they wished to deal with the allegation. They declined to re-open their investigation into the events of the crash. Page 3 INTRODUCTION On 6 January 2004, Michael Burgess officially opened the Inquests into the deaths of the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed. He stated: I am aware that there is speculation that these deaths were not the result of a sad, but relatively straight forward, road traffic accident in Paris. I have asked the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to make inquiries. The results of these inquiries will help me to decide whether such matters will fall within the scope of the investigation carried out at the inquests.' Terms of Reference for Operation Paget On 15 January 2004, the Coroner and the then Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, Sir John Stevens, now Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington, agreed the following terms of reference for Operation Paget. To liaise with the French authorities in relation to the deaths of the Princess of Wales and Dodi Fayed and in doing so identify any investigative opportunities that the Coroner may wish to address with the French authorities. In order to assist the Coroner to achieve the above a comparative standard will be compiled in relation to lines of enquiry, technical analysis, witnesses and any other aspect of the enquiry the Coroner identifies to enable him to achieve his responsibilities to confirm the information provided by the French witnesses To assist with lines of enquiry in the United Kingdom as identified by the Coroner To identify allegations which would suggest that the deaths of the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed were caused other than as a result of a tragic road traffic accident and assess whether there is any credible evidence to support such assertions and report the same to the Coroner The primary purpose of Operation Paget was to assess any credible evidence that supported the allegation of conspiracy to murder, not to re-investigate the issues looked at by the French investigation. The British Police Crime Investigation (Operation Paget) Detailed consideration of the conspiracy allegation made by Mohamed Al Fayed led the MPS to determine that a criminal investigation should be conducted. Although the crash and the deaths occurred within French jurisdiction, any alleged offence of conspiracy was primarily based in the United Kingdom and the allegation came under that jurisdiction. The French authorities agreed to support the Coroner by allowing special operating procedures in relation to International Letters of Request (ILoR) due to the volume of enquiries anticipated. Page 4 INTRODUCTION The French Judicial Dossier' (case file) contains statements of witnesses, police reports, expert reports and judicial orders created during the French investigation. It is the property of the French authorities and remains so. However, following the opening of the inquests in England in January 2004 they gave permission for the Coroner, and on his behalf the police, to use the dossier in support of the British criminal investigation even though legal appeals were still continuing in France. This was possible because the French investigation had looked at the circumstances surrounding the crash and was aimed, in Judge Hervé Stéphan's words, at determining the legal ramifications of any possible liability.' The conspiracy allegation is much wider in terms of breadth and timescale over which suspicious activity is alleged to have taken place. Operation Paget has used the content of the French judicial dossier as the foundation for understanding the immediate events around the Alma underpass. Where new techniques, or developed knowledge, allows that content to be enhanced Operation Paget has tried to do so. This is particularly so with regard to the collision reconstruction' techniques used at the scene. A significant element of the work undertaken by Operation Paget in assessing the conspiracy allegation was different from the French investigation into the crash. The Conspiracy Allegation Mohamed Al Fayed has made a principal crime allegation, supplemented by numerous linked claims and assertions. In essence Mohamed Al Fayed's allegation is that the Security Services' (unless otherwise specified, this is taken to be the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) - commonly known as MI6) acting at the behest of HRH Prince Philip, arranged for or carried out the murder of Dodi Al Fayed and the Princess of Wales. The alleged motive was that the Princess of Wales was pregnant with Dodi Al Fayed's child and there was to be an imminent announcement of their engagement. It is suggested by Mohamed Al Fayed that the Royal Family could not accept that an Egyptian Muslim could eventually be the stepfather of the future King of England'. It is alleged that the Security Services of the United Kingdom covertly obtained the information concerning pregnancy and engagement, with or without the co-operation of overseas agencies, precipitating the need to put into operation a plan to murder them. Mohamed Al Fayed further alleges there was a cover-up by the Establishment' to prevent the conspiracy and murders from coming to light. Sequence of Events This is an overview of events to assist in placing the relationship of the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed into context and understanding, in broad terms, how they came to be at the Alma underpass at 12.23am on Sunday 31 August 1997. Page 5 INTRODUCTION It should first be explained that in 1994, at her request, official personal protection had been removed from the Princess of Wales. She wanted less intrusion into her private life. Until then, the MPS Specialist Operations' Command had routinely provided protection to her as a senior member of the Royal Family. From 1994 onwards she received such protection only if she was on an official visit that warranted such security or if members of the Royal Family who warranted protection in their own right, most obviously her sons, accompanied her. Meeting on Holiday On Friday 11 July 1997 the Princess of Wales and her two sons, HRH Prince William and HRH Prince Harry, commenced a holiday in St Tropez. They were guests at the home of Mohamed Al Fayed. He had known the Princess of Wales previously, but this was the first time she had taken up his invitation of a summer holiday. The Princess of Wales had made it known to friends that she wanted to spend time with her sons in a secure environment and she knew that Mohamed Al Fayed had his own security team. Personal Protection Officers (PPO) from New Scotland Yard accompanied the Royal Princes and worked with Mohamed Al Fayed's security team in St Tropez during this holiday. It was during the day of Monday 14 July 1997 that the Princess of Wales told the press "You will get a big surprise with the next thing I do". It was also during this holiday that a photograph was taken of the Princess of Wales in a leopard print swimsuit, following which some newspapers ran a story that the picture might be an indication of pregnancy. Dodi Al Fayed, the eldest son of Mohamed Al Fayed, joined the family holiday on the evening of Monday 14 July 1997. There is evidence in comments that the Princess of Wales made to friends on her return that she enjoyed this holiday. She flew back to England with her sons on Sunday 20 July 1997. Dodi Al Fayed remained in St Tropez. The Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed continued to spend time together. They spent the weekend of 26 July 1997 together in Paris. This visit attracted almost no media attention. The couple's chauffeur said that they walked relatively freely in Paris without interference from the media or public. On their return to England the couple continued to spend time together and on Thursday 31 July 1997 they flew to Nice and holidayed together on the French and Italian Riviera aboard Mohamed Al Fayed's yacht, the Jonikal'. It was during this trip that the famous kiss' photograph was taken by the Italian photographer, Mario Brenna. Not only did this photograph appear to draw media attention to the couple, it is believed that the amount of money reportedly earned by Brenna focused the attention of the paparazzi. Page 6 INTRODUCTION The Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed returned to England on Wednesday 6 August 1997. The media attention on both was now much greater. Dodi Al Fayed at that time had two bodyguards working for him, John Johnson and Trevor Rees-Jones, each on duty for a week at a time. Although well known in his own circles, Dodi Al Fayed was not a public figure and was not generally recognised in the street. His bodyguards described their work before his relationship with the Princess of Wales in fairly routine terms. On Friday 8 August 1997 the Princess of Wales flew to Bosnia in support of the United Nations landmines campaign, returning on Sunday 10 August 1997. She then took a short break with her friend the Honourable Rosa Monckton. They spent five days between 15 and 20 August 1997 cruising the islands of Greece in Rosa Monckton's boat. According to Rosa Monckton, the media did not trace them on this cruise as it was such a small boat and no one was aware that the Princess of Wales of was on board. The Princess of Wales flew back to England on Wednesday 20 August 1997. Dodi Al Fayed during this time had spent some time in Los Angeles. On Friday 22 August 1997, the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed again flew to Nice to rejoin the yacht, the Jonikal'. They cruised the Mediterranean coasts of France, Monaco and Sardinia. Two bodyguards, Trevor Rees-Jones and Kieran Wingfield, accompanied them during this time. Police Personal Protection Officers were not provided for any of the Princess of Wales' holidays with Dodi Al Fayed, as they were private trips. Saturday 30 August 1997 On Saturday 30 August 1997 the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed flew from Olbia airport in Sardinia to Le Bourget airport on the outskirts of Paris, arriving at about 3.20pm. Trevor Rees-Jones, Kieran Wingfield, René Delorm, (Dodi Al Fayed's butler), Myriah Daniels (a holistic healer) and Deborah Gribble (Chief Stewardess on the Jonikal), accompanied them. Some paparazzi were waiting for the couple at Le Bourget airport and took photographs as they disembarked from the plane. At the airport two cars were waiting. Philippe Dourneau, an experienced and regular chauffeur for Dodi Al Fayed, drove the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed in a Mercedes S600 car. Trevor Rees-Jones accompanied them. This was not the car that was subsequently involved in the crash. The other people who had been on the flight were driven by Henri Paul in a Range Rover. There were differing accounts of how distracting the paparazzi were while following the couple on the drive into Paris from Le Bourget airport. In any event, Philippe Dourneau appears to have driven in a manner that prevented the paparazzi from following them. He took the couple to Villa Windsor, the house in the Bois de Boulogne belonging to Mohamed Al Fayed. Henri Paul, in the meantime, Page 7 INTRODUCTION took the occupants of his car and the couple's luggage to the apartment in rue Arsène Houssaye. Henri Paul and Kieran Wingfield, having dropped the other members of the party at the rue Arsène Housssaye apartment, drove to Villa Windsor and met up with Dodi Al Fayed and the Princess of Wales. After a short stay at the Villa Windsor, Philippe Dourneau drove the Princess of Wales, Dodi Al Fayed and Trevor Rees-Jones to the Ritz Hotel, followed by Henri Paul in the Range Rover, arriving at the rear entrance in the rue Cambon. It was now around 4.30pm. During this visit to the Ritz Hotel, Dodi Al Fayed went to the Repossi jewellers shop in Place Vendôme. The shop is on the opposite corner of Place Vendôme, a short distance from the hotel. Claude Roulet, the assistant to the President of the Ritz Hotel, went ahead of Dodi Al Fayed and met him there. The details of this visit are discussed in Chapter One. The Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed left the Ritz Hotel at around 7pm, again driven by Philippe Dourneau, from the rear exit in the rue Cambon. They went to the apartment in rue Arsène Houssaye. The paparazzi followed them on this journey. Jean-François Musa now drove the Range Rover. He was the owner of a limousine company, Etoile Limousine, which had close links to the Ritz Hotel. Henri Paul stayed at the hotel as he was now off duty and he left the Ritz Hotel moments later. At the apartment there were again differing accounts of how difficult and intrusive the paparazzi were. There is evidence of a minor altercation between them and the staff looking after the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed. The couple stayed in the apartment until around 9.30pm, leaving for a pre-arranged dinner at the Chez Benoît restaurant situated at 20 rue Saint Martin, Paris. This restaurant is situated to the east of the city centre. The route there would involve driving past the area of the Ritz Hotel (map attached at Appendix 1). Philippe Dourneau again drove the Mercedes with the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed in the rear. Jean-François Musa continued to drive the Range Rover accompanied by Kieran Wingfield and Trevor Rees-Jones, as they wished to give the couple more privacy. Again there are differing accounts of how difficult the paparazzi were on this journey. En route to the restaurant Dodi Al Fayed told Philippe Dourneau to abandon the plan to go to the Chez Benoît and to drive to the Ritz Hotel instead. The couple arrived at the Ritz Hotel at about 9.50pm. On this occasion Philippe Dourneau drove directly to the front entrance in Place Vendôme. The Ritz staff had not been expecting them to return and the arrival of the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed at the hotel did not go smoothly. Some paparazzi upset the couple with their intrusive behaviour. At this point, a member of the Ritz Hotel security staff telephoned Henri Paul, as the Acting Head of Ritz Hotel security, to inform him of the couple's unexpected return. Henri Paul, who had been off duty since 7pm, returned to the hotel within ten minutes of the telephone call, arriving shortly after 10pm. Page 8 INTRODUCTION Once inside the hotel the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed initially went to one of the hotel restaurants. They soon moved instead to the privacy of the Imperial Suite on the first floor, where they later dined. The Journey to the Alma Underpass The Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed stayed in and around the Imperial Suite until leaving the hotel at around 12.20am on Sunday 31 August 1997, intending to return to the apartment in rue Arsène Houssaye. Again they left via the rear exit in the rue Cambon. Henri Paul now drove the couple, who were in the back of a different Mercedes, an S280 saloon, registration number 688LTV75. Although not accredited as a chauffeur, Henri Paul had been on several Mercedes driving courses in Germany. The S280 Mercedes belonged to Etoile Limousine and had been brought up from a car park under Place Vendôme. Trevor Rees-Jones was the front seat passenger. Philippe Dourneau and Jean-François Musa remained at the front of the hotel in Place Vendôme with the original Mercedes and the Range Rover, along with Kieran Wingfield. They were to attract the attention of the paparazzi away from the departure of the couple from the rear of the hotel. A short while after the couple left, both men drove their vehicles to the rue Arsène Houssaye apartment, unaware of what then happened in the Alma underpass. How it was decided that Henri Paul should drive this vehicle from this exit is discussed in full in Chapter Four. Again there are differing accounts of the behaviour of the paparazzi and the effect they may have had on Henri Paul's driving. Once the paparazzi realised that the couple had left by the rear exit they were quickly in pursuit. Indeed a small number of the paparazzi had been covering the rear exit in any event. Henri Paul drove along the rue Cambon to the junction with rue de Rivoli, then turned right heading into the Place de la Concorde. After being held at traffic lights there, he continued towards the embankment road of the River Seine, avoiding the more direct route of the avenue des Champs-Elysées. He drove along the embankment road, Cours la Reine, Cours Albert 1er, passing under the Alexandre III tunnel. Philippe Dourneau, the chauffeur, described this as the professional drivers' route, to avoid the heavy traffic of the avenue des Champs- Elysées on Saturday night. However, the obvious route after the Alexandre III tunnel is an exit slip road to the right, leading to the avenue George V or the avenue Marceau. Henri Paul did not take this slip road, but continued towards the Alma underpass. It has not been established with total certainty why Henri Paul made this decision, but eyewitness evidence placed a number of vehicles travelling close to the Mercedes at this point. There is forensic evidence that at some point the Mercedes car had a glancing contact with another car, believed to be a white Fiat Uno. The French investigation did not identify this car or the driver. Page 9 INTRODUCTION The Mercedes crashed directly into the thirteenth pillar of the central reservation in the Alma underpass. The car spun around and came to a stop facing the opposite direction. Operation Paget, using laser techniques to capture precise data, has recreated an extremely detailed computer representation of the Alma underpass and its approach. Collision investigators of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the United Kingdom Transport Research Laboratory Ltd (TRL) have used this model to interpret the physical evidence left at the scene of the crash, such as tyre marks; the spread of vehicle debris; and vehicle dynamics. This provides an understanding of the movement of the Mercedes as it approached and entered the underpass, supported by the physical evidence. This understanding has been enhanced by a comprehensive technical examination of the Mercedes S280 that was involved in the crash. These findings and conclusions form part of Chapters Six and Seven. Dodi Al Fayed and Henri Paul were pronounced dead at the scene. The Princess of Wales was still alive following the crash but barely conscious. She was taken to the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital. Following emergency surgery she was pronounced dead at 4am local time. Trevor Rees-Jones was taken to the same hospital with very serious injuries and after extensive treatment was released on Friday 3 October 1997. Following external medical examinations by a French court appointed medical expert, the bodies of the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed were repatriated to England later that day. The Princess of Wales' body had been embalmed in Paris. This is discussed in detail in Chapter Nine. Post-mortem examinations were carried out on the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed at Hammersmith and Fulham Mortuary on the evening of Sunday 31 August 1997. The cause of death for both was attributed to the catastrophic injuries sustained in the crash. An autopsy had been carried out on Henri Paul at the Institut Médico-Légal (IML) in Paris at around 8am on Sunday morning. Again the cause of death was attributed to injuries he sustained in the crash. The issues arising from his autopsy, namely the samples taken and toxicological analyses, are discussed in detail in Chapter Four. The Police Investigation Report The French investigation began immediately after the crash. The parameters and conclusions have been outlined earlier at page two. This report looks at the criminal investigation undertaken by the MPS into the allegation of conspiracy to murder. Mohamed Al Fayed has made claims in support of the allegation of conspiracy to murder over a number of years. These have been made in legal submissions, in letters to Operation Paget, and other forms of communication. This has included regular meetings between his team and Operation Paget. Mohamed Al Fayed provided a witness statement to police in July 2005. Page 10 INTRODUCTION Some claims are very similar but have slight differences as they have been amended by Mohamed Al Fayed over time as new information has come to light. The claims have been grouped together into specific subject areas, listed chronologically where possible, and sourced. Operation Paget has tried to examine all relevant evidence relating to the identified claims in order to address all of the questions raised by Mohamed Al Fayed. There are sixteen subject areas. These are aligned as far as possible to the different strands of the conspiracy allegation and each has a separate chapter in this report. The chapters taken together look at the allegation of conspiracy to murder. In broad terms they examine three key areas: motive, opportunity and capability. Chapter One focuses on the key element of motive. Why would anyone want to kill the Princess of Wales or Dodi Al Fayed? What evidence is there that the couple were engaged, intending to get engaged and about to make a public announcement? What evidence is there that the Princess of Wales was, or perhaps more importantly believed, she was pregnant? What evidence is there that, if true, this was sufficient cause for anyone to order her murder? The subsequent chapters examine in detail the events leading up to the weekend of Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August 1997. They assess who knew sufficient details of the plans, timings and movements of the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed to organise and carry out a plan of such complexity. When assessing evidence relating to events around the Alma underpass this report focuses on the evidence relevant to the conspiracy allegation. The Coroner will be responsible for hearing the evidence to answer the four primary questions of who, when, where and how, in relation to a person's death. Report Layout The Chapters are: 1. Relationship/Engagement/Pregnancy [Paget Note: The alleged motive for the conspiracy] 2. Perceived Threats to the Princess of Wales 3. Actions of the Paparazzi in Paris 4. Henri Paul - Ritz Security Officer and Driver of the Mercedes car 5. CCTV/Traffic Cameras in Paris 6. Mercedes Car 7. Blocking Vehicles / Unidentified Vehicles / Bright Flashes (The Journey to the Alma Underpass) Page 11 INTRODUCTION 8. Post-Crash Medical Treatment of the Princess of Wales 9. The Embalming of the Body of the Princess of Wales at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital 10. Actions of the French Authorities 11. Actions of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office/British Embassy, Paris 12. British Authorities' Actions With Regard To Suspicious Deaths' 13. Bodyguards of Mohamed Al Fayed (Trevor Rees-Jones, Kieran Wingfield and Reuben Murrell) 14. James' Andanson French Photojournalist and Owner of a White Fiat Uno 15. Central Intelligence Agency/National Security Agency, USA 16. The Secret Intelligence Service and the Security Service Each of these chapters comprise three parts: (i) The claims made to support the allegation (ii) The evidence (iii) Operation Paget conclusions British police investigations conducted in France have to be authorised by the French authorities, normally through an International Letter of Request under Mutual Legal Assistance. British police officers are not permitted to conduct enquiries themselves but can be present whilst French Judicial Police officers conduct the enquiries on their behalf. This applies to the taking of witness evidence. The record of these interviews conducted in French is known as a Procès-Verbal and is different in style and format to an English witness statement. This difference in style will be seen when reading the report. The claims at the beginning of each chapter are direct lifts from source documents or have been made in interviews to camera. The wording may have been abridged to assist the reader in understanding the key points. Operation Paget has assessed all relevant statements and documents and has included excerpts only where considered necessary. Excerpts from statements or other documents shown in italics are direct lifts and the language and spelling will reflect this. Evidence and opinion in the report is referenced and sourced. Operation Paget Comments' and Paget Notes' throughout the report are intended to assist the readers in their understanding of the evidence. These comments and notes are based on Operation Paget's understanding of the issue. Page 12 INTRODUCTION Operation Paget will assess any new evidence from the inquest process. Any new evidence arising from legal actions by Mohamed Al Fayed in France will be assessed against the current conclusions in the report. A map of key locations is attached at appendix A' Top lawyer says Princess Diana 'was killed after plan to frighten her went wrong' - Peter Lemkin - 02-07-2012 A lot of good basic information and maps in the report...but concludes with the UK Security Services saying 'trust me' we didn't even have her under surveillance [yeah, right!] and certainly know nothing [much less were involved] about an assassination......the Warren Report of the Diana Assassination :curtain: Top lawyer says Princess Diana 'was killed after plan to frighten her went wrong' - Dawn Meredith - 02-07-2012 Peter Lemkin Wrote:A lot of good basic information and maps in the report...but concludes with the UK Security Services saying 'trust me' we didn't even have her under surveillance [yeah, right!] and certainly know nothing [much less were involved] about an assassination......the Warren Report of the Diana Assassination :curtain: Thanks for taking the time to read this Peter. You saved me a lot of time. It looked like it was going to be rather different. It's hard to find any really good info on this case. I am taking a holiday day today to just read online so got bogged down in some of the Diana stuff...Boy one could easily spend months reading non stop at this forum. Top lawyer says Princess Diana 'was killed after plan to frighten her went wrong' - Peter Lemkin - 02-07-2012 Dawn Meredith Wrote:Peter Lemkin Wrote:A lot of good basic information and maps in the report...but concludes with the UK Security Services saying 'trust me' we didn't even have her under surveillance [yeah, right!] and certainly know nothing [much less were involved] about an assassination......the Warren Report of the Diana Assassination :curtain: Well, one can glean good information not easily found all in one place from within the 'Report'...I just would ignore the tone and conclusions. It is worth a look at. Top lawyer says Princess Diana 'was killed after plan to frighten her went wrong' - Jan Klimkowski - 18-08-2013 Here's some detail on the source of the new claims: Quote:Was Princess Diana MURDERED by British soldier? Metropolitan Police 'assessing credibility' of new claim made in court martial of SAS sniper Danny Nightingale |