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Diana driver 'not a big drinker' Diana driver 'not a big drinker'
(about 1 hour later)
The parents of Princess Diana's driver Henri Paul have told the inquest into her death that they had never seen their son drink to excess.The parents of Princess Diana's driver Henri Paul have told the inquest into her death that they had never seen their son drink to excess.
The princess, Dodi Al Fayed and Mr Paul died in the 1997 Paris crash and tests indicated Mr Paul was three times over the French drink-drive limit.The princess, Dodi Al Fayed and Mr Paul died in the 1997 Paris crash and tests indicated Mr Paul was three times over the French drink-drive limit.
Speaking via video link from Paris, Jean and Giselle Paul said they had never seen their son drunk. Jean and Gisele Paul said reports that their son was an alcoholic were "certainly wrong".
They said cash found after his death was given by wealthy clients as tips. The jury also heard about a large cache of alcohol found in Mr Paul's flat.
The court heard Mr Paul had lodged 80,000 francs (about £8,000) into bank accounts in each of the three months leading up to his death. But Mr and Mrs Paul's barrister Richard Keen QC suggested the bottles may have been planted as they were not found in the first police search of Mr Paul's flat.
But his parents dismissed suggestions that their son had been in the pay of the security services, as alleged by Dodi's father, Harrods owner Mohamed al Fayed. The inquest heard how the second police team, who searched the flat less than a week later, reported finding drinks all over the small Paris flat.
Fiat Uno
Lieutenant Marc Monot, who took part in the first search, said they had not been "looking specifically for bottles of alcohol".
During the day's proceedings, the jury also heard that despite a massive operation, police have never tracked down a white Fiat Uno, believed to have been involved in the crash.
We have been looking for the truth for a long time Jean and Giselle Paul Lab results 'cooked'We have been looking for the truth for a long time Jean and Giselle Paul Lab results 'cooked'
Paint residue, traces from the bumper of the Mercedes and debris from the back light show it "must have been involved with a white Fiat Uno," Jonathan Hough, representing the coroner, said.
Speaking via video link from Paris, Mr and Mrs Paul said cash found after their son's death was given by wealthy clients as tips.
The court heard Mr Paul had lodged 80,000 francs (about £8,000) into bank accounts in each of the three months leading up to his death. More than £1,000 was also found on his body.
But his elderly parents dismissed suggestions that their son had been in the pay of the security services, as alleged by Dodi's father, Harrods owner Mohamed al Fayed.
The couple said they understood their son occasionally received large one-off tips from rich guests at the Ritz Hotel where he worked, including one of 5,000 francs from a Saudi prince for taking his wife and daughter shopping in Paris.The couple said they understood their son occasionally received large one-off tips from rich guests at the Ritz Hotel where he worked, including one of 5,000 francs from a Saudi prince for taking his wife and daughter shopping in Paris.
Mrs Paul said: "I have already explained that when he had to do some shopping for the clients of the hotel, he needed to have some cash with him to be able to pay for it."Mrs Paul said: "I have already explained that when he had to do some shopping for the clients of the hotel, he needed to have some cash with him to be able to pay for it."
'Assassination''Assassination'
They said they had been incredulous when it was announced shortly after the crash that their son had been "drunk" and had been an alcoholic. They also said Lord Stevens, who carried out the Metropolitan Police investigation into the fatal crash, had assured them their son was not drunk and had been driving more slowly than had been reported.
"It was certainly wrong," the couple said. Princess Diana's death has been the subject of heated debate
They also said Lord Stevens, who carried out the Metropolitan Police investigation into the fatal crash, had assured them that their son was not drunk and had been driving more slowly than had been reported.
But his report concluded Mr Paul had a blood alcohol level of 1.74g per litre, the equivalent of twice the British drink-drive limit and three times the French.But his report concluded Mr Paul had a blood alcohol level of 1.74g per litre, the equivalent of twice the British drink-drive limit and three times the French.
Speaking through an interpreter, the couple told Michael Mansfield QC, representing Mohamed al Fayed, that Lord Stevens had said if the crash was an "assassination", the repercussions in England would be "great and incalculable".Speaking through an interpreter, the couple told Michael Mansfield QC, representing Mohamed al Fayed, that Lord Stevens had said if the crash was an "assassination", the repercussions in England would be "great and incalculable".
'Loyal'
They also told the inquest how the French authorities refused their requests for independent tests on their son's blood to prove if he was drunk.They also told the inquest how the French authorities refused their requests for independent tests on their son's blood to prove if he was drunk.
The inquest has heard experts question whether the blood samples tested came from him.The inquest has heard experts question whether the blood samples tested came from him.
Princess Diana's death has been the subject of heated debate Loyal
The BBC's Daniela Relph said the couple were "quite frail and hard of hearing", and all of the lawyers acknowledged how hard it must be for them to talk about their bereavement. The BBC's Daniela Relph said the couple were "quite frail and hard of hearing", and all of the lawyers acknowledged how difficult it must be for them to talk about their bereavement.
Henri Paul had been the acting head of security at the Ritz Hotel in Paris when he took the wheel of the Mercedes which crashed in the Alma Tunnel in August 1997.Henri Paul had been the acting head of security at the Ritz Hotel in Paris when he took the wheel of the Mercedes which crashed in the Alma Tunnel in August 1997.
The couple agreed that their son was "very loyal" to Dodi and the Ritz Hotel.The couple agreed that their son was "very loyal" to Dodi and the Ritz Hotel.
When questioned, they agreed their son may have driven after drinking if Dodi had ordered him to do so.When questioned, they agreed their son may have driven after drinking if Dodi had ordered him to do so.
Police searches
However, they flatly denied claims, said to have been made during the Lord Stevens meeting in 2006, that Dodi shares some blame for the crash.However, they flatly denied claims, said to have been made during the Lord Stevens meeting in 2006, that Dodi shares some blame for the crash.
"We never said that. We do not know," they said. "We have been looking for the truth for a long time.""We never said that. We do not know," they said. "We have been looking for the truth for a long time."
The inquest also heard the police may have planted a large cache of alcohol in Mr Paul's flat to back up claims he had a drink problem.
Mr Paul's Paris flat was searched twice after the crash and on the first occasion, officers only found a bottle of champagne, a near-empty bottle of Martini and 200 cans of Coca Cola.
But less than a week later another police team searched the small flat - this time in the absence of Mr Paul's parents - and reported finding drinks all over the flat.
Lieutenant Marc Monot, who took part in the first search, said they had not been "looking specifically for bottles of alcohol".
The inquest continues.The inquest continues.