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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| No Burrell probe during inquest | No Burrell probe during inquest |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Metropolitan Police has said it will not launch a perjury investigation into ex-royal butler Paul Burrell until the Princess Diana inquest concludes. | The Metropolitan Police has said it will not launch a perjury investigation into ex-royal butler Paul Burrell until the Princess Diana inquest concludes. |
| The coroner had asked him to explain discrepancies between his evidence and reports in the Sun newspaper. | The coroner had asked him to explain discrepancies between his evidence and reports in the Sun newspaper. |
| In a video obtained by the Sun, he appeared to claim he introduced "red herrings" in court and held back facts. | In a video obtained by the Sun, he appeared to claim he introduced "red herrings" in court and held back facts. |
| Mr Burrell, 49, who denies perjury, has refused to return to the UK from the US to answer the allegations. | Mr Burrell, 49, who denies perjury, has refused to return to the UK from the US to answer the allegations. |
| Return requested | Return requested |
| Any decision taken would be in consultation with the coroner Metropolitan Police spokesman | Any decision taken would be in consultation with the coroner Metropolitan Police spokesman |
| The inquest is being held into the car crash which killed Diana, Dodi Al Fayed and driver Henri Paul in Paris in 1997. | |
| Scotland Yard had declined to comment on the possibility of a police inquiry after the allegations about Mr Burrell were raised. | Scotland Yard had declined to comment on the possibility of a police inquiry after the allegations about Mr Burrell were raised. |
| But a spokesman said: "Any action the Metropolitan Police Service would take around allegations of perjury would not be dealt with until conclusion of the inquests. | But a spokesman said: "Any action the Metropolitan Police Service would take around allegations of perjury would not be dealt with until conclusion of the inquests. |
| "Any decision taken would be in consultation with the coroner after the jury have reached their verdict." | "Any decision taken would be in consultation with the coroner after the jury have reached their verdict." |
| The coroner, Lord Justice Scott Baker, had contacted Mr Burrell, who lives in Florida, asking him to return to the inquest to account for the Sun's story. | The coroner, Lord Justice Scott Baker, had contacted Mr Burrell, who lives in Florida, asking him to return to the inquest to account for the Sun's story. |
| But Mr Burrell refused to come back to defend himself or appear via video link from the US. | |
| He had no plans to return to the UK, he told court officials. | He had no plans to return to the UK, he told court officials. |
| 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. |
| Mr Burrell's conversation featured in the Sun 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. | Mr Burrell's conversation featured in the Sun 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 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. | 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." | "Perjury isn't a very nice thing to have to consider." |
| Mr Burrell has said he was drunk and showing off when he made the admission. | Mr Burrell has said he was drunk and showing off when he made the admission. |
| The hearing continues. | The hearing continues. |