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Burrell refuses return to inquest Burrell refuses return to inquest
(40 minutes later)
Former royal butler Paul Burrell has refused to return to the inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.Former royal butler Paul Burrell has refused to return to the inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
He had been asked to explain discrepancies between his evidence and comments reported in the Sun newspaper.He had been asked to explain discrepancies between his evidence and comments reported in the Sun newspaper.
In a video recording obtained by the Sun, Mr Burrell apparently claims he introduced "red herrings" during his evidence and held back facts.In a video recording obtained by the Sun, Mr Burrell apparently claims he introduced "red herrings" during his evidence and held back facts.
The coroner said he cannot compel him to give evidence because he is outside the court's jurisdiction in the US.The coroner said he cannot compel him to give evidence because he is outside the court's jurisdiction in the US.
Lord Justice Scott Baker said in a statement: "The coroner asked him to give further evidence either in person or via videolink from abroad.Lord Justice Scott Baker said in a statement: "The coroner asked him to give further evidence either in person or via videolink from abroad.
"Mr Burrell has refused to do this and, as he is outside the court jurisdiction, the coroner has no power to compel him to give evidence.""Mr Burrell has refused to do this and, as he is outside the court jurisdiction, the coroner has no power to compel him to give evidence."
Further evidence from Mr Burrell will be read to the jury, the coroner said. 'Play the game'
His lawyers have said he did not conceal evidence and released a statement saying the tabloid story, published on 18 February, was the "result of entrapment". Mr Burrell's conversation was recorded in a New York hotel on 18 February after he gave evidence to the inquest a month before.
Sections of the transcript of the conversation have been read to the jury at the High Court.
In it, Mr Burrell said he had made the 500-mile round trip from London to his home in Cheshire to pick up documents for the coroner because he had to "play the game".
In the transcript, Mr Burrell said: "I sacrificed my own integrity for the bigger picture, but people are wise enough to realise that.
"Perjury isn't a very nice thing to have to consider."
He denied he had committed perjury but added: "I did not tell the whole truth. When you swear an oath you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."
Mr Burrell said the coroner had pushed him to say more than he had wanted to on Diana's secrets.
'Red herrings'
He said: "It's a contempt of court and you can go to prison, so there was no way I was going there, no way. I wanted to steer it away from that as much as possible and I was very naughty, and I laid a couple of red herrings."
As the conversation came to an end Mr Burrell repeated: "What I told I told but I didn't tell the whole truth."
Court officials have said an investigation into whether he committed perjury was not in the coroner's remit.
His lawyers have said he did not conceal evidence and released a statement saying the tabloid story, published in February, was the "result of entrapment".
At the time of his three-day appearance at the inquest in January, Mr Burrell described the experience as "horrid".At the time of his three-day appearance at the inquest in January, Mr Burrell described the experience as "horrid".
The inquest at the High Court is investigating the deaths of Diana, Dodi Al Fayed and driver Henri Paul in a car crash in Paris in 1997.The inquest at the High Court is investigating the deaths of Diana, Dodi Al Fayed and driver Henri Paul in a car crash in Paris in 1997.
The hearing continues.The hearing continues.