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Driver 'drunk' before Diana crash Driver 'drunk' before Diana crash
(about 3 hours later)
The driver of the car in which Princess Diana was killed appeared to be drunk, according to evidence provided by a paparazzi photographer.The driver of the car in which Princess Diana was killed appeared to be drunk, according to evidence provided by a paparazzi photographer.
Serge Benhamou, who was taking pictures on the night, refused to give evidence at the London inquest but provided a written statement.Serge Benhamou, who was taking pictures on the night, refused to give evidence at the London inquest but provided a written statement.
Mr Benhamou said driver Henri Paul was cheerful, thumbing his nose at photographers and smiling.Mr Benhamou said driver Henri Paul was cheerful, thumbing his nose at photographers and smiling.
"He must have been drinking. I believe that he was drinking", he said."He must have been drinking. I believe that he was drinking", he said.
Mr Benhamou made his statement on 4 September 1997, four days after the fatal crash which killed Diana, her friend Dodi Fayed and Mr Paul.Mr Benhamou made his statement on 4 September 1997, four days after the fatal crash which killed Diana, her friend Dodi Fayed and Mr Paul.
He said he remembered seeing Mr Paul, who was in charge of security at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, at the back of the hotel just a few hours before the crash.He said he remembered seeing Mr Paul, who was in charge of security at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, at the back of the hotel just a few hours before the crash.
He said Mr Paul's jokey behaviour towards the photographers was uncharacteristic.He said Mr Paul's jokey behaviour towards the photographers was uncharacteristic.
"I would add that the man never acted like that before", Mr Benhamou said in his statement."I would add that the man never acted like that before", Mr Benhamou said in his statement.
Photographed wreckage
On his scooter, Mr Benhamou shadowed the Mercedes carrying Diana from the Ritz.
He said he took pictures of the mangled wreckage with the bodies inside, in the Alma Tunnel.
They found it horrible for people to take photographs when other people had been involved in a accident Serge Benhamou
He claimed to have been acting on instinct but suffered sleepless nights over his actions.
"I took my shots of the car and the occupants when I was approximately three metres from the scene.
"People told us to move as they did not like us taking photographs. They found it horrible for people to take photographs when other people had been involved in a accident."
Seven photographers were arrested at the scene. Mr Benhamou was one of five later held in connection with the crash.
Some other paparazzi were arrested but not questioned, the jury was told. A French investigation against all but two of the photographers focused on the paparazzi's driving and whether they sought to help.
But the case for potentially failing to render assistance and involuntary manslaughter was dismissed in December 1999 when the judge was satisfied their driving did not cause the crash.
'Drinking' publicised
Robert Weekes, counsel for the parents of Henri Paul, questioned Police Commissaire Eric Gigou about Mr Benhamou's claims.
Mr Gigou, through an interpreter via video-link from Paris, accepted that at no point did the photographer say he had seen Mr Paul drinking or that his voice was slurred.
He agreed that, two or three days before Mr Benhamou was first interviewed, the Paris public prosecutor's office had put out a press release saying Mr Paul was three times over the blood-alcohol limit - and this was widely publicised.
Mr Weekes asked if it was possible Mr Benhamou saw it in the press and then sought to blame Mr Paul for the crash by claiming he was drunk outside the Ritz hotel.
Mr Gigou accepted it was possible, but said he could not accuse Mr Benhamou of anything in relation to his testimony.
The hearing continues.The hearing continues.