http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/news/nol/shar...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'
"The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it." Karl Marx
"He would, wouldn't he?" Mandy Rice-Davies. When asked in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her.
“I think it would be a good idea” Ghandi, when asked about Western Civilisation.
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