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Burrell escapes perjury referral Burrell escapes perjury referral
(41 minutes later)
The coroner for the inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales has no plans to refer butler Paul Burrell to police for a perjury investigation. The coroner for the inquest into the death of Princess Diana has no plans to refer ex-butler Paul Burrell to police for a perjury investigation.
Lord Justice Scott Baker had told the inquest that it is "blindingly obvious" her former butler lied at the hearings. Lord Justice Scott Baker had told the jury that it was "blindingly obvious" her former butler had lied to them.
But he said he is "not minded" to pass the matter on to Scotland Yard. But after the verdict, he said he was "not minded" to involve the police.
The jury found the princess and Dodi Al Fayed were unlawfully killed due to the "gross negligence" of driver Henri Paul and the paparazzi.The jury found the princess and Dodi Al Fayed were unlawfully killed due to the "gross negligence" of driver Henri Paul and the paparazzi.
The Metropolitan Police said it is not currently investigating any perjury allegations relating to the case, but did not rule out doing so in the future.The Metropolitan Police said it is not currently investigating any perjury allegations relating to the case, but did not rule out doing so in the future.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it was time to "draw a line" under the death of the princess. In his summing up, Lord Justice Scott Baker told the jury that the evidence Mr Burrell gave was clearly "not the whole truth", but that not all of his testimony should be discounted.
Trevor Rees, the only survivor of the crash in which Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed died, has said he agrees with the jury's verdict. Mr Burrell, who has published several books and was a reality television participant, may have given evidence while thinking that "whatever he said might have an impact on his future enterprises", the coroner said.
"I hope that this now represents a point from which everyone involved can move on," the former bodyguard said.
Mr Al Fayed's father, Mohamed, has refused to accept the verdicts.
Mr Rees, who suffered horrific injuries in the Paris car smash, was employed by Mr Al Fayed at the time of the tragedy.
'Profound gratitude'
He was praised by Princess 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 Send us your commentsI think he is going to be very mindful of what people are saying - which is that it should end here Katharine WittyAl Fayed spokeswoman Send us your comments
In a video obtained by the Sun newspaper, Mr Burrell appeared to claim he introduced "red herrings" in court and held back facts.
Mr Burrell, 49, who denies perjury, had refused to return to the UK from the US to reappear at the inquest.
Lord Justice Scott Baker also cast doubt on Mr Burrell's conversation with the Queen several months after the August 1997 crash, in which he claimed that the Queen told him "there are powers at work in this country of which we have no knowledge".
Reacting to the verdict after the six-month inquest, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it was time to "draw a line" under the death of the princess.
Trevor Rees, the only survivor of the crash, said he agreed with the jury's verdict.
"I hope that this now represents a point from which everyone involved can move on."
Survivor Trevor Rees has been praised by Princes William and Harry
Mr Rees, who suffered horrific injuries in the Paris car smash, was employed by Mr Al Fayed at the time of the accident.
He was praised by Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, for giving evidence to the inquest.
"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."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.
In a message to jurors, they said: "We agree with their verdicts and are both hugely grateful."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". However, Dodi's father Mohamed 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."
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.
Survivor Trevor Rees has been praised by Princes William and Harry
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.
'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."