This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7027837.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Diana driver 'visited hotel bar' Diana last moments shown in court
(about 2 hours later)
The driver of the car in which Princess Diana was killed went to a hotel bar about two hours before the crash, the inquest into her death has heard. The final loving moments shared by Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed before their fatal car crash have been shown to the inquest into their deaths.
CCTV footage seen by the jury showed Henri Paul visiting the bar at the Ritz Hotel in Paris shortly after 2200. CCTV footage seen by the jury showed the couple cuddling at the rear exit of the Ritz Hotel in Paris.
The court was told blood tests showed Mr Paul had been over the drink-drive limit when the Mercedes hit a pillar. Earlier, the court was shown footage of driver Henri Paul visiting the hotel bar about two hours before the crash.
Diana, Dodi Al Fayed and Mr Paul died as a result of the crash in a Paris tunnel on 31 August, 1997. Diana, Mr Al Fayed and Mr Paul died as a result of the crash in a Paris tunnel on 31 August, 1997.
The High Court inquest has heard how Mr Paul, who worked at the Ritz as acting head of security, went off duty at 1900 on the night of August 30. In the latest CCTV images shown to the High Court inquest, hotel security staff and Diana's bodyguards are seen preparing to avoid a group of paparazzi gathered outside the front of the hotel.
Decoy plan
The court heard how they hatched a plan to use two decoy vehicles which would leave from the front of the hotel, while the couple would leave from the rear of the building.
Mr Paul and bodyguard Trevor Rees are then captured during the seven-minute wait for the Mercedes S280 saloon, which was leased by the hotel and was to take the couple to Mr Al Fayed's apartment.
A picture of the princess in the Mercedes has also been released
The princess and Mr Al Fayed are then seen running across the road to their waiting car and Diana shields her face as the vehicle is pursued by photographers.
Just minutes after leaving the hotel, the Mercedes crashed as it entered the underpass under the Place d'Alma.
Mr Al Fayed and Mr Paul died at the scene, while Diana died later of her injuries.
Earlier, the court was told how Mr Paul, who worked at the Ritz as acting head of security, went off duty at 1900 on the night of August 30.
But when the princess and Mr Fayed returned to the hotel three hours later followed by paparazzi photographers, he was asked to come back.But when the princess and Mr Fayed returned to the hotel three hours later followed by paparazzi photographers, he was asked to come back.
'Two Ricards''Two Ricards'
The inquest was shown images from CCTV cameras at the hotel showing Mr Paul returning at 2205. The inquest was shown further CCTV images showing Mr Paul returning at 2205.
He was seen walking into the hotel's Bar Vendome to join bodyguards Trevor Rees and Kes Wingfield. He was seen walking into the hotel's Bar Vendome to join bodyguards Mr Rees and Kes Wingfield.
On Wednesday, coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker confirmed Mr Paul had ordered two Ricards - an aniseed spirit - after his return. The court was told blood tests showed Mr Paul had been over the drink-drive limit when the Mercedes hit a pillar.
On Wednesday, coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker confirmed Mr Paul had ordered two Ricards - an aniseed spirit - after his return to the hotel.
He went on to ask: "But had he had anything more to drink between 1900 and 2200?He went on to ask: "But had he had anything more to drink between 1900 and 2200?
A picture of the princess in the Mercedes has also been released
"In that period, he would perhaps have been entitled to assume that he would not be coming back to work that evening.""In that period, he would perhaps have been entitled to assume that he would not be coming back to work that evening."
Blood sample claims
The coroner previously told the jury there was differing evidence as to whether Mr Paul was drunk.The coroner previously told the jury there was differing evidence as to whether Mr Paul was drunk.
He said that while samples indicated he was over the UK drink-drive limit, witnesses that night reported seeing no obvious sign of intoxication.He said that while samples indicated he was over the UK drink-drive limit, witnesses that night reported seeing no obvious sign of intoxication.
Dodi's father, Mohamed Al Fayed, has always insisted Mr Paul was not drunk and that the blood samples were switched as part of a secret service plot to murder the princess and his son.Dodi's father, Mohamed Al Fayed, has always insisted Mr Paul was not drunk and that the blood samples were switched as part of a secret service plot to murder the princess and his son.
The court has heard that in the earlier hours of the next morning, at about 0020, the Mercedes S280 saloon, leased by the hotel and driven by Mr Paul, left the hotel pursued by some press photographers.
Just minutes after leaving the hotel, the Mercedes crashed as it entered the underpass under the Place d'Alma.
The inquest, being held at London's Royal Courts of Justice, could last for up to six months.The inquest, being held at London's Royal Courts of Justice, could last for up to six months.