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the organisation of the crash. They both made statements to the British investigators; these were not included in the Paget Report and were not read to the jury during the inquest. Paris toxicologist who carried out the alcohol testing on blood the organisation of the crash. They both made statements to the samples from both of Henri Paul's autopsies. It is the results of British investigators; these were not included in the Paget Report his testing that led to the high blood-alcohol readings that and were not read to the jury during the inquest. became the basis of the French and British investigations’ conclusion that the crash was caused by a drunk driver. Lack of Jury Access to Evidence Generally during this inquest, when a witness was not made The entire inquest process was hamstrung by the fact that available for cross-examination, their statement(s) to the French witnesses were unable to recall clearly the detail of events that or British police were read out instead. In the case of Lecomte occurred so long ago. Throughout the six months of evidence, and Pépin, who both had signed statements with the British there were countless instances where those being cross-examined police, these statements were not read out to the jury. Thus the said: "I'm sorry. It is ten years ago now. I cannot remember." jury was not provided with any direct evidence from the two For the jury, this problem was exacerbated by the antiquated most important witnesses regarding the circumstances in which rule whereby they were unable to have access to the earlier the alleged blood-alcohol results from the driver of the Mercedes official statements of cross-examined witnesses, which had been were based—yet it is these blood test results that are central to given during the initial French investigation and the later British the jury's finding that Henri Paul was guilty of gross negligence. Operation Paget. Many of the French eyewitness statements It is difficult to overstate the importance to this inquest of the were taken within hours of the crash. It should be obvious to all evidence of Lecomte and Pépin. The question has to be asked: if concerned that these original statements, taken very soon after Lecomte and Pépin have nothing to hide, then why did they not the events, would provide more accuracy than witness cross- want to cooperate with the British inquest? examination over 10 years later. On the morning of 11 If Diana, Princess of Wales, was murdered, then Lecomte and December 2007, the jurors themselves requested access to these Pépin would have played key roles in the aftermath and the statements. After some discussion in the Court, Lord Justice ensuing French cover-up. Scott Baker's decision was: "No, you cannot have the There are many other important witnesses who were not cross- statements” (66.7). examined. They include: It is evident that if this had been an inquest without a jury, then ¢ Tom Richardson, an American the Coroner would have had access to tourist who was the first pedestrian all witness statements. Why should a to rush into the Alma Tunnel Thus the jury was not provided jury have been any different? immediately after hearing the noise of the crash. He was never | With any direct evidence from the Inadequacies of Early interviewed by either the French or two most important witnesses Investigations the British investigators. The failure of the French ¢ David Laurent, who had to regarding the circumstances in authorities to carry out a thorough swerve to avoid a slow-moving, old- which the alleged blood-alcohol and adequate investigation in the first model, light-coloured Fiat Uno-type place, when the events were still fresh car as he entered the Alma Tunnel, results from the driver of the in the minds of key witnesses, also just seconds before the crash contributed to the difficulties that occurred behind him. His evidence Mercedes were based... faced the inquest. is critical, as paint from an old- Take, for instance, the evidence of model white Fiat Uno was found on Alberto Repossi, the jeweller who the Mercedes after the crash, and that Fiat Uno has never been sold Dodi Fayed the "engagement ring" (he was cross-examined officially identified. Laurent also was never interviewed by the on 10 December 2007). Repossi was never interviewed by the British police. French, and thus his first testimony was not taken until the ¢ Father Frank Gelli, Diana's local Anglican minister at St British Operation Paget officers interviewed him in September Mary Abbots Church near Kensington Palace. He was a friend 2005, eight years after the crash. of Diana, and stated in a media interview in 2000 that Diana had Likewise, Brian Anderson (17 October 2007, afternoon), a asked him if he would perform the wedding when she married passenger in a taxi following behind the Mercedes and thus a key Dodi. Gelli performs a service in memory of Diana on 31 eyewitness to the crash, according to police records was never August each year outside the gates of Kensington Palace. He interviewed by the French. His first official testimony was taken was never interviewed by either the French or the British by British officers on 31 August 2004, precisely seven years after investigators. the events he had to describe. To the shame of both the French ¢ Michel Massebeuf, the driver of Diana's ambulance following and the British investigators, there are no records of any attempts the crash. He is one of only three people who were in the being made to locate the driver of the taxi that Brian Anderson ambulance, which didn't deliver Diana to the hospital until 2.06 was in. am—one hour and 41 minutes after the crash. Massebeuf was American Joanna da Costa (formerly Luz) (22 October 2007, never interviewed by the British police. afternoon), one of the first two pedestrian eyewitnesses on the ¢ A female student intern who was another one of the three crash scene, was never interviewed by the French investigators. people in Diana's ambulance. She assisted the ambulance doctor Her only interview was taken by the British police on 23 August and must have been involved in administering Diana's treatment. 2004, but for some unknown reason this testimony was never This woman was never interviewed or named in any police included in the official police Paget Report. investigation and remains anonymous to this day. Where delays of up to a decade or more in the hearing of * Nicholas Langman and Richard Spearman, both MI6 agents evidence have occurred, it is obvious that the accuracy of who were operating out of the British Embassy in Paris at the end testimony could have been compromised. of August 1997. It has been alleged that both were involved in The recently completed inquest did, however, help to highlight 26 = NEXUS JUNE — JULY 2008 Mercedes were based... www.nexusmagazine.com