Diana inquest in quotes

The wreckage that the Paris car crash that killed Princess Diana and Dodi al-Fayed

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Tuesday, 08, Apr 2008 12:06

The jury at the inquest into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi al-Fayed have delivered verdicts of unlawful killing.

Nine out of the 11 jurors agreed that the princess and her partner's deaths in a Paris car crash in 1997 were a result of the gross negligence of paparazzi and chauffeur Henri Paul.

Yesterday's verdict at the royal courts of justice marked the end of a six-month inquest that has dominated news agendas and divided onlookers over the cost to the public purse.

inthenews.co.uk looks back over the last half year to collate the most significant quotes of the at-times controversial inquest.

"Members of the jury, in the early hours of Sunday 31st August, 1997, a Mercedes motor car, in which Diana, Princess of Wales was a passenger, crashed into a pillar in the central reservation of the Alma Underpass in Paris. Most, if not all of you, will remember where you were when you heard about the subsequent death of the Princess of Wales.

"None of you would, for a moment, have thought that over ten years later you might be on a jury investigating the events relating to that tragic August night. But you are, and the task you have is an important one and it is yours and yours alone. No one can tell you what to decide, although I shall do what I can to assist you, in particular by summing up the evidence and directing you on the law at the end of the hearing."

Lord Justice Scott Baker's opening remarks to jurors who were to give up six months of their lives.

"I do not want to be flippant, I'm tempted to say I'm flattered, but this is such an absurd allegation that it is difficult to deal with.

"It's completely off the map. I cannot think of any other way of saying it."

Former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove responds to claims the intelligence agencies run the country and that Britain's status as a parliamentary democracy is a myth.

"Heaven knows where on earth I begin to thank you for the most magical six days on the ocean waves.

"This comes with all the love in the world and as always a million heartfelt thanks for bringing such joy into this particular chick's life."

Correspondence between Diana and Dodi dated August 6th presented to the inquest last December.

"It's time to send him back to Germany from where he comes.

"You want to know his original name - it ends with Frankenstein."

Mohamed al-Fayed brands Prince Philip a "Nazi" as he provides evidence at the inquest he spent almost a decade campaigning for.

"You work for MI6, you idiot."

Mr al-Fayed addresses BBC journalist Peter Hunt after the royal correspondent asked him if he was lying after leaving court.

"I am disappointed. The verdict will come as a blow to the many millions of people around the world who support my struggle and I thank them."

Dodi's father's statement to the media following the jury's verdict.

"We understand Mr al-Fayed's grief. But he has got to accept at some stage that there was nobody involved in his son's and Princess Diana's death. It was an accident. There is no evidence that suggests anything other than that."

Labour MP for Stockton South Dari Taylor adds her voice to growing concern over inquest's costs.

"The princess always had a great fondness for Prince Charles even after her divorce.

"Prince Charles was not capable of murdering the princess - they were cordial towards the end of her life."

Former royal butler Paul Burrell reacts with shock to claims Princess Diana was murdered by her ex-husband's family.

"I told the truth as far as I could - but I didn't tell the whole truth. Perjury is not a nice thing to have to contemplate. I was very naughty."

Mr Burrell as quoted by a secret video filmed by the Sun after his inquest appearance.

"You have heard [Paul Burrell] in the witness box and even without what he said subsequently in the hotel room in New York, it was blindingly obvious wasn't it that the evidence that he gave in this court was not the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."

"There is no evidence that the Duke of Edinburgh ordered Diana's execution, and there is no evidence that the secret intelligence service or any other government agency organised it."

Lord Justice Scott Baker directs jurors in his summation of the inquest.

"If invited, I will always do my utmost to help you and Charles to the best of my ability, but I am quite ready to concede that I have no talents as a marriage counsellor!!!"

Correspondence between Diana and her former father-in-law, the Duke of Edinburgh, who the Princess of Wales referred to as "dearest Pa".

"Mr al-Fayed said that he will accept the verdict of the jury. The verdict has been clear. They have said they are absolutely sure that there is no conspiracy in relation to this matter.

"I do hope everybody will take this verdict as being closure to this particular tragic incident and the people who've died will be allowed to rest in peace."

Lord Stevens, who led a UK police inquiry into Diana and Dodi's deaths, calls for closure.

"We agree with [the jurors'] 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.

"The two of us would like to express our most profound gratitude to all those who fought so desperately to save our mother's life on that tragic night."

Princes William and Harry, 15 and 12 at the time of their mother's death, thank jurors and emergency workers as the inquest ends.

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