Please help- Princess Diana screenplay

[zennon]

I don't know where to put this so the mods should move it if need be.

I'm writing a screenplay around the facts of the late Princess Diana's death. Who may have been involved, motives, etc are all being explored. I would appreciate it very much if anyone could post any information and/or links they have regarding this.

Thank You

[TonyGosling]

Diana inquest: Paparazzi 'blocking vehicle' slowed down Princess' car moments before crash
24th October 2007
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_artic le_id=489437&in_page_id=1770

Princess Diana's car crashed after colliding with a mystery vehicle "blocking" its path to allow pursuing paparazzi to take pictures, an inquest heard yesterday.

A series of eyewitnesses told yesterday how the Mercedes attempted to overtake a slower "blocking vehicle" as it zoomed into the Alma tunnel at over 90mph.

But the driver, Henri Paul lost control after bumping into the slower car in front and ploughed into the pillar, the jury was told.


Prior to the crash a 'blocking' car slowed down Diana and Dodi's Mercedes for paparrazzi, it is claimed

Immediately after the fatal crash, the unidentified dark car and the motorcycle tailgating the Mercedes fled the scene without stopping, leaving Diana and her lover Dodi Fayed to die.

The court heard the paparazzi swarmed around the crumpled car, impeding the emergency services.

Benoit Boura, one of the passing motorists who stopped to help, saw paramedics attending to the naked body of Dodi Fayed, having torn off his clothes in an attempt to re-start his heart.

Mr Boura told the inquest at the High Court in London that he saw a series of "violent flashes" around the Mercedes as it was pursued by a number of paparazzi on motorcycles on August 31, 1997.

As he approached the tunnel with his then girlfriend, Gaelle L'hostis, the former Army driver saw bright flashes of light he compared to a speed camera or a police radar gun.

Inside the tunnel, Mr Boura heard the sound of squealing tyres as the Mercedes slammed on the brakes, then he saw it collide with the dark car in front which was described by various witnesses as a Ford Mondeo, a Renault Clio and a Citroen Berlingo.

Speaking via videolink from Paris, he said: "I thought about it afterwards, I took that for an impact with two vehicles, but bumper to bumper not involving metal."

A dark car appeared to form a 'compact group' with several motorcyclists following the Princess's vehicle moments before it crashed in the tunnel

He went on: "The car bumped into another and then bumped into a pillar in the tunnel.

"No sound of braking, no sound of tyres squeaking, just the loss of control, the car skidding. "It was sliding in one direction, ours and then onto the pillar."

Miss L'hostis, who is now his wife, added: "I saw a vehicle of a dark colour, a Clio or a Super 5-type that was driving rather slowly.

"It was hindering a Mercedes that was following it at a high speed.

"The Mercedes was going too high a speed and had to brake to avoid it. So the Mercedes most certainly tried to avoid that car and to overtake it.

"It is at this time that it hit something on the left and hit the wall on the right."

Seconds after the crash, the car in front described as a small dark hatchback like a Renault Clio accelerated and the Piaggio motorcycle behind swerved to avoid the Mercedes before both sped off.



Mr Boura then parked up and attempted to flag down traffic to stop it entering the tunnel.

But a photographer, identified as Laslo Veres, forced his way through shouting "press" as he veered past them. About 15 minutes later Mr Boura re-entered the tunnel on foot where emergency services were trying to free people trapped in the car and revive Dodi.

He said: "They were taking care of Dodi al Fayed behind the Mercedes and were certainly trying to make his heart go again.

"He was naked and they were trying to open up the roof of the Mercedes."

Seven photographers, including Romuald Rat, Christian Martinez and Jacques Longevin were jostling to get close to the car, getting in the way of the emergency crews, the court heard.

Miss L'hostis said: "Some police officers not wearing uniform said to photographers to stop taking photographs." When asked how the paparazzi responded, she replied: "violently, verbally and every way they behaved in their gestures."

Another eyewitness at the scene told police of the photographers, "I knew three of them who are known for their working practices, they stop at nothing and live for the shot and nothing else".

Olivier Partouche, a part-time chauffeur who was walking near the crash, said the dark car in front of the Mercedes appeared to form a "compact group" with several motorcyclists.

Estimating the Mercedes' speed to be 93mph, he told French police about a "blocking vehicle".

"In front of the Mercedes was a car, of which I could not tell you the make," he recalled.

"It was dark in colour and clearly this car was trying to make the Mercedes slow down.

"The object of the manoeuvre was to make it possible for the paparazzi to take photographs."

Describing Henri Paul as an experienced chauffeur, Mr Partouche described a violent surge forward as the Mercedes accelerated into the tunnel in an attempt to shake off the pursuing paparazzi.

[zennon]

Thanks.

Have you been in touch with Martin Bell ?