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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bodyguard welcomes Diana verdict | Bodyguard welcomes Diana verdict |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| Trevor Rees, the only survivor of the crash in which Princess Diana died, has said he agrees with the verdict of the jury in the inquest into her death. | Trevor Rees, the only survivor of the crash in which Princess Diana died, has said he agrees with the verdict of the jury in the inquest into her death. |
| "I hope that this now represents a point from which everyone involved can move on," the former bodyguard said. | "I hope that this now represents a point from which everyone involved can move on," the former bodyguard said. |
| The inquest found Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed were unlawfully killed due to the "gross negligence" of driver Henri Paul and the paparazzi. | |
| Mr Al Fayed's father, Mohamed, has refused to accept the verdicts. | Mr Al Fayed's father, Mohamed, has refused to accept the verdicts. |
| Mr Rees, who suffered horrific facial injuries in the Paris car smash despite being the only person wearing a seatbelt, was employed by Mr Al Fayed at the time of the tragedy. | Mr Rees, who suffered horrific facial injuries in the Paris car smash despite being the only person wearing a seatbelt, was employed by Mr Al Fayed at the time of the tragedy. |
| 'Profound gratitude' | 'Profound gratitude' |
| He was praised by Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, for giving evidence to the inquest. | |
| I think he is going to be very mindful of what people are saying - which is that it should end here Katharine WittyAl Fayed spokeswoman | |
| "We are particularly grateful to Trevor Rees and to others who came forward to give evidence - in many cases reawakening their painful and personal memories," they said. | |
| In a statement welcoming the inquest verdict, the princes tried to draw a line under years of speculation surrounding their mother's death. | |
| Survivor Trevor Rees was the only person in the car wearing a seatbelt | |
| In a message to jurors, they said: "We agree with their verdicts and are both hugely grateful." | |
| They also commended coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker for "his unfailing courtesy and for all the consideration shown by him and his staff, not only to us, but to all those involved in this hearing". | They also commended coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker for "his unfailing courtesy and for all the consideration shown by him and his staff, not only to us, but to all those involved in this hearing". |
| Ramifications | |
| And they expressed "profound gratitude" to all those who fought to save their mother's life. | And they expressed "profound gratitude" to all those who fought to save their mother's life. |
| The jury of six women and five men returned joint verdicts of unlawful killing through grossly negligent driving - or gross negligence manslaughter - by majorities of nine to two. | The jury of six women and five men returned joint verdicts of unlawful killing through grossly negligent driving - or gross negligence manslaughter - by majorities of nine to two. |
| But Mohamed Al Fayed has rejected the verdicts. His spokeswoman, Katharine Witty, told BBC News 24: "I think he is just going to reflect on the full ramifications of the verdict." | But Mohamed Al Fayed has rejected the verdicts. His spokeswoman, Katharine Witty, told BBC News 24: "I think he is just going to reflect on the full ramifications of the verdict." |
| Asked if he would challenge it through judicial review, she said: "I think it is something he is considering...I think he is going to be very mindful of what people are saying - which is that it should end here." | Asked if he would challenge it through judicial review, she said: "I think it is something he is considering...I think he is going to be very mindful of what people are saying - which is that it should end here." |
| She said Mr Al Fayed accepted some issues had "fallen away" during the inquest, but added: "It is possible that MI6 were involved...we are still saying that, it's possible, but whether...we can do anything about that remains to be seen." | She said Mr Al Fayed accepted some issues had "fallen away" during the inquest, but added: "It is possible that MI6 were involved...we are still saying that, it's possible, but whether...we can do anything about that remains to be seen." |
| In a statement issued immediately after the jury's decision, Mr Al Fayed said the verdicts would come as a blow to "millions" of his supporters around the world. | In a statement issued immediately after the jury's decision, Mr Al Fayed said the verdicts would come as a blow to "millions" of his supporters around the world. |
| 'Playing with fire' | |
| The total cost to British taxpayers of investigating Princess Diana's death is expected to exceed £10m. | |
| Despite the verdicts, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed it is not possible for the Crown Prosecution Service to prosecute foreign nationals for deaths abroad, even if the victim is British. | |
| All of the paparazzi involved were foreign. | |
| Phil Hall, News of the World editor at the time of the crash, said everyone must take responsibility for the tragedy, including the public which had "a voracious appetite" for photos of the couple. | |
| But Princess Diana was "playing with fire" by courting the press, he told BBC Radio 5 Live, adding: "Where it goes wrong is when you have photographers acting as a mob and a driver who clearly is drunk." | |
| Meanwhile, Princess Diana's former Butler, Paul Burrell, is waiting to discover whether he will be investigated by the police for perjury for allegedly lying at the inquest. |