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'Grossly Negligent' Driving Led to Diana's Death: Jury

Six-month inquest blames chauffeur, paparazzi, not conspiracy

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 7, 2008 10:49 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Princess Diana was killed by the “grossly negligent” driving of an inebriated Henri Paul and the paparazzi following the car, the inquest jury declared today, ruling the 1997 crash an “unlawful killing.” The jury added that not wearing seat belts had contributed to Diana and Dodi Fayed’s fates. Dodi's father, Mohamed Fayed, stormed out of court, disgusted his conspiracy theory had been rejected.

Fayed has spent years blaming the British government for his son’s death. But while the verdict was the harshest the jury could dole out, and a noticeable step up from 2006’s “tragic accident” ruling, it makes no mention of a conspiracy, the Daily Mail reports. The jury reached a decision just an hour after the judge said he would accept a majority ruling rather than a unanimous one in the $12 million inquest.

The head of Diana Princess of Wales, in the rear seat, her bodyguard, and driver Henri Paul are seen shortly before the car crash that killed Diana, Dodi Fayed and the driver in Paris, Aug. 31, 1997.
The head of Diana Princess of Wales, in the rear seat, her bodyguard, and driver Henri Paul are seen shortly before the car crash that killed Diana, Dodi Fayed and the driver in Paris, Aug. 31, 1997.   (AP Photo/H.M. Coroner, HO)
In this image by photographer Jacques Langevin, the Princess of Wales and Dodi Fayed leave the Ritz Hotel in Paris, on Aug. 30, 1997, shortly before their death.
In this image by photographer Jacques Langevin, the Princess of Wales and Dodi Fayed leave the Ritz Hotel in Paris, on Aug. 30, 1997, shortly before their death.   (AP Photo/Jacques Langevin, HM Coroner, ho)
Diana, Princess of Wales, smiles at the United Cerebral Palsy's annual dinner at the New York Hilton in this Dec. 11, 1995 file photo.
Diana, Princess of Wales, smiles at the United Cerebral Palsy's annual dinner at the New York Hilton in this Dec. 11, 1995 file photo.   (AP Photo/ Mark Lennihan, file)
Coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker, who is presiding over the inquest into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed.
Coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker, who is presiding over the inquest into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed.   (AP Photo/Cathal McNaughton, Pool, File)
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COMMENTS
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Jury blames paparazzi, Paul
Telegraph (UK)

Who said what at Diana's inquest
Independent (UK)

Facts and fictions about Diana's death
Guardian (UK)

 
Princess Diana • drunk driving • Henri Paul • Diana inquest • Mohamed al Fayed • Dodi al Fayed

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