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Lawyer 'sure' of Dodi engagement | Lawyer 'sure' of Dodi engagement |
(10 minutes later) | |
A legal adviser to the Al Fayed family said he was "pretty sure" Dodi Al Fayed had become engaged to Princess Diana just days before a fatal car crash. | A legal adviser to the Al Fayed family said he was "pretty sure" Dodi Al Fayed had become engaged to Princess Diana just days before a fatal car crash. |
Stuart Benson told the inquest into her 1997 death he had received a brief call from Mr Al Fayed who had spoken of "very exciting news" to share later. | |
Mr Benson added the princess had not been named in the call as Mr Al Fayed had feared his calls were being bugged. | Mr Benson added the princess had not been named in the call as Mr Al Fayed had feared his calls were being bugged. |
But his "tone of voice" had indicated he had been referring to the princess. | But his "tone of voice" had indicated he had been referring to the princess. |
Speaking at the London inquest, he described the call from onboard Mr Al Fayed's luxury yacht. | Speaking at the London inquest, he described the call from onboard Mr Al Fayed's luxury yacht. |
It was something he felt he could not talk about on the phone Stuart Benson | It was something he felt he could not talk about on the phone Stuart Benson |
"It was singularly short and pretty much the exact words [were], 'Can't really talk over the phone, but my friend and I have very exciting news'. | "It was singularly short and pretty much the exact words [were], 'Can't really talk over the phone, but my friend and I have very exciting news'. |
"'Are you around on Monday to have lunch as it will mean lots of issues to talk about and discuss?'" | "'Are you around on Monday to have lunch as it will mean lots of issues to talk about and discuss?'" |
Mr Benson, a lawyer for Mr Al Fayed's father, Mohamed, said he had assumed this had referred to an engagement, because of the "tone of voice and voice used". | Mr Benson, a lawyer for Mr Al Fayed's father, Mohamed, said he had assumed this had referred to an engagement, because of the "tone of voice and voice used". |
"It was clearly not a business discussion. It was something he felt he could not talk about on the phone - that was my reaction to what he said," Mr Benson said. | "It was clearly not a business discussion. It was something he felt he could not talk about on the phone - that was my reaction to what he said," Mr Benson said. |