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Decoy plan changed Diana driver Decoy plan changed Diana driver
(about 3 hours later)
The man who drove Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed on the night of their fatal crash, should not have been at the wheel, an inquest heard.The man who drove Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed on the night of their fatal crash, should not have been at the wheel, an inquest heard.
Henri Paul was acting head of security at the Ritz Hotel, Paris when he drove the couple from hotel 10 years ago. Henri Paul was acting head of security at the Ritz Hotel, Paris when he drove the couple 10 years ago.
Mr Al Fayed's usual driver, Philippe Dorneau, remained at the front of the building acting as a decoy.Mr Al Fayed's usual driver, Philippe Dorneau, remained at the front of the building acting as a decoy.
Night security manager, Francois Tendil, said the ill-fated plan was devised to evade the paparazzi.Night security manager, Francois Tendil, said the ill-fated plan was devised to evade the paparazzi.
'Growing crowd''Growing crowd'
Mr Tendil told the inquest he believed Mr Paul and the two bodyguards had come up with the "doomed plan" in discussions, with Mr Al Fayed playing a key part.Mr Tendil told the inquest he believed Mr Paul and the two bodyguards had come up with the "doomed plan" in discussions, with Mr Al Fayed playing a key part.
Due to the situation and what Dodi could see in front of the hotel, he decided at the last minute that Henri Paul could drive the car, Francois Tendil Night security manager, Ritz HotelDue to the situation and what Dodi could see in front of the hotel, he decided at the last minute that Henri Paul could drive the car, Francois Tendil Night security manager, Ritz Hotel
Mr Paul was reminded by Mr Tendil moments before setting off that it was not his job to drive the couple but said nothing.Mr Paul was reminded by Mr Tendil moments before setting off that it was not his job to drive the couple but said nothing.
Mr Tendil told the court that Mr Al Fayed had been angered by the paparazzi following Diana and him since their arrival in Paris.Mr Tendil told the court that Mr Al Fayed had been angered by the paparazzi following Diana and him since their arrival in Paris.
And the court heard that Mr Al Fayed could see a growing crowd of photographers outside the Ritz Hotel.And the court heard that Mr Al Fayed could see a growing crowd of photographers outside the Ritz Hotel.
"Due to the situation and what Dodi could see in front of the hotel, he decided at the last minute that Henri Paul could drive the car," Mr Tendil said."Due to the situation and what Dodi could see in front of the hotel, he decided at the last minute that Henri Paul could drive the car," Mr Tendil said.
Plans were changed due to the level of press interest in the couplePlans were changed due to the level of press interest in the couple
'Motorcycles everywhere''Motorcycles everywhere'
Mr Dorneau told the inquest that it was the first time in his experience that Mr Al Fayed had been pursued by the paparazzi.Mr Dorneau told the inquest that it was the first time in his experience that Mr Al Fayed had been pursued by the paparazzi.
Mr Dorneau described how earlier that evening there had been so much press attention as they drove through Paris, it prompted the decision to cancel a restaurant booking and dine in the hotel instead.Mr Dorneau described how earlier that evening there had been so much press attention as they drove through Paris, it prompted the decision to cancel a restaurant booking and dine in the hotel instead.
"They were everywhere," he said. "I started to drive and there were motorcycles everywhere, I remember that, on the pavement, on the road, everywhere.""They were everywhere," he said. "I started to drive and there were motorcycles everywhere, I remember that, on the pavement, on the road, everywhere."
Mr Dorneau told the inquest he believed that had the paparazzi not been there that night, the crash would not have happened.Mr Dorneau told the inquest he believed that had the paparazzi not been there that night, the crash would not have happened.
The princess and Mr Al Fayed had been at the Ritz during the afternoon but their unexpected return just before 2200 left staff unsure what to do.The princess and Mr Al Fayed had been at the Ritz during the afternoon but their unexpected return just before 2200 left staff unsure what to do.
Mr Tendil said he called Mr Paul, who had gone off duty three hours earlier but agreed to come back.Mr Tendil said he called Mr Paul, who had gone off duty three hours earlier but agreed to come back.
He said he saw no sign that Mr Paul had been drinking that night, although blood tests after the crash showed he was over the drink-drive limit.He said he saw no sign that Mr Paul had been drinking that night, although blood tests after the crash showed he was over the drink-drive limit.
Philippe Dorneau said Henri Paul had appeared "perky and chatty" but he did not get the impression that he was drunk.Philippe Dorneau said Henri Paul had appeared "perky and chatty" but he did not get the impression that he was drunk.
He described how Mr Al Fayed had been "mad, angry and annoyed" about the behaviour of the paparazzi and at one point Diana had to calm him down.He described how Mr Al Fayed had been "mad, angry and annoyed" about the behaviour of the paparazzi and at one point Diana had to calm him down.
Dodi Al Fayed's father, Mohamed Al Fayed, is convinced the crash was staged by MI6 to kill Diana.Dodi Al Fayed's father, Mohamed Al Fayed, is convinced the crash was staged by MI6 to kill Diana.