Diana Inquest: Paparazzo - 'Henri Paul Took Risks'
Written by Joanne Leyland
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Page 1 of 2
A paparazzi photographer told police investigating the car crash which
killed Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Fayed that the third fatality, driver Henri Paul, "took many risks" behind the wheel and "took off, like a shot" on
the fateful journey from the Ritz Hotel in Paris.
Following on from similar proceedings on Monday, the High Court inquest has today heard details of another police statement
made by a paparazzo in the aftermath of the crash of August 31st 1997.
The photographers have refused to appear at the inquest, either via video link or in person.
Recalling the recalled the speed with which Henri Paul drove the princess and her boyfriend –
as well as the survivor of the crash, bodyguard Trevor Rees [Jones] – away past
the Champs Elysee, Romuald Rat told police: "I did not understand why the Mercedes suddenly
drove so quickly since every[thing] had gone so well during the day and a normal
chauffeur knows that is not the way that you shake someone off."
Referring to Paul, the paparazzo concluded in his original police statement: "He
took too many risks."
Mr Rat also recalled how Henri Paul left the
rear exit of the Ritz Hotel to speak to photographers moments before Diana and
Dodi also emerged as part of their ill-fated plan to elude the paparazzi,
saying of Henri Paul "broadly speaking he was mocking us".
The photographer also told police that a fellow paparazzo had said of Paul before he drove away from the Ritz hotel: "I
think he has been drinking".
The official French and British investigations into the Paris crash
concluded that it was an accident caused by a drunken driver.
