 |
|
|
After an inquest that lasted six months, an 11-member jury
gave a final verdict Monday in Princess Diana’s death.
The jurors concluded that Diana and her boyfriend, Dodi
Al-Fayed, were killed through grossly negligent driving, blaming chauffeur
Henri Paul and the paparazzi photographers chasing the couple’s car at high
speed.
They also added that the fact that the couple were not
wearing seatbelts was another factor that led to their death.
The jury, which had listened to more than 250 witnesses, has
debated for four days before reaching a conclusion.
Following the verdict, Princess Diana’s sons, Prince William
and Prince Harry, released a statement in which they thanked the jury and
agreed to their conclusion.
“We should like to thank the members of the Jury at the
Inquests into the deaths of our mother and Dodi Al Fayed for the thorough way
in which they have considered the evidence,” the statement reads. “We agree
with their verdicts, and are both hugely grateful to each and every one of them
for the forbearance they have shown in accepting such significant disruption to
their lives over the past six months.”
But Dodi Al-Fayed’s father, who had accused, during the
inquest, members of the royal family of planning Diana’s assassination,
declared he was unsatisfied with the verdict.
“I'm not the only person who said they were murdered. Diana
predicted that she would be murdered and how it would happen. So I am
disappointed,” Mohamed Al-Fayed said in a statement.
He had always insisted that the Queen together with Prince
Phillip were guilty for Diana’s death.
On the other side, Diana’s sons thanked coroner Scott Baker,
“for his unfailing courtesy and for all the consideration shown by him and his
staff not only to us but to all those involved in this hearing.” They also expressed
their gratitude for those who had tried to save Diana’s life in the night of
the accident 10 years ago.
© 2007 - 2009 - eFluxMedia