Operation Paget

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Operation Paget was the British Metropolitan Police inquiry established in 2004 to investigate the conspiracy theories about the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in a car crash in Paris in 1997. The inquiry's first report with the findings of the criminal investigation was published in 2006. The inquiry was wound up following the conclusion of the British inquest in 2008, in which a jury delivered its verdict of an "unlawful killing" due to the "gross negligence" of both the driver of Diana's car and the pursuing paparazzi. [1] [2]

Contents

Background

The criminal investigation in the United Kingdom was initiated on 6 January 2004 when the coroner of the Queen's Household, Michael Burgess, asked the then Metropolitan Police commissioner, Sir John Stevens, to conduct enquiries into allegations of a cover-up and conspiracy: [3] that MI6, under the orders of the royal family, deliberately caused the fatal car crash in Paris that killed Diana and Dodi Fayed. [4] [5]

The investigation was legally necessary; once the inquest into the deaths got under way in the United Kingdom, it became apparent to the coroner that allegations were being made that a crime had taken place on UK soil: namely, conspiracy to murder. Coroners are legally obliged to refer to the police any information or evidence that comes before them concerning a suspected or actual crime. The basis of the investigation was public statements made mainly by Dodi Fayed's father, Mohamed Al-Fayed.

The investigation initially was confined to the general premise of the alleged conspiracy, but was eventually broadened to cover every associated allegation made through the media, in legal submissions, and in formal correspondence since the crash. The level of detail of the investigation is reflected in the report's length at 832 pages which took a team of fourteen experienced police officers nearly three years to compile. Accident Investigation experts from TRL assisted the police enquiry.

The British police also carried out investigations in Paris. [6] Because of public interest in Diana, the Metropolitan Police decided to publish the report on the internet, although it had been drafted as an internal police document. [7] [8] The criminal investigation was expected to cost at least £2 million pounds. [9] The cost of the inquiry eventually exceeded £12.5 million, with the coroner's inquest at £4.5 million, and a further £8 million spent on the Metropolitan Police investigation. [10]

Criminal investigation report

The criminal investigation report's chapter titles are:

Introduction
Chapter One – Relationship / Engagement / Pregnancy (Alleged motives for the conspiracy)
Chapter Two – Perceived Threats to Diana, Princess of Wales
Chapter Three – Actions of the Paparazzi in Paris
Chapter Four – Henri PaulHôtel Ritz Paris Security Officer and driver of the Mercedes
Chapter Five – CCTV / (traffic cameras) in Paris
Chapter Six – Mercedes Car
Chapter Seven – Blocking Vehicles / Unidentified Vehicles / Bright Flashes (The Journey to the Alma Underpass)
Chapter Eight – Post-Crash Medical Treatment of Diana
Chapter Nine – The Embalming of the Body of the Princess of Wales at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital
Chapter Ten – Actions of the French Authorities
Chapter Eleven – Actions of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office / British Embassy, Paris
Chapter Twelve – British Authorities Actions with regard to 'Suspicious Deaths'
Chapter Thirteen – Bodyguards of Mohamed Al-Fayed (Trevor Rees-Jones, Kieran Wingfield and Reuben Murrell)
Chapter Fourteen – ‘James’ Andanson – French Photo-journalist and owner of a White Fiat Uno
Chapter Fifteen – Central Intelligence Agency / National Security Agency, USA
Chapter Sixteen – The Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and the Security Service (MI5)

Conclusion of criminal investigation report

Each chapter of the report concluded that all allegations made since the crash of conspiracy were without foundation and all the evidence obtained point to the deaths of Diana and Fayed as being the result of an accident. The script for the 2007 television docudrama Diana: Last Days of a Princess borrowed heavily from testimony in the Paget report.

Angela Gallop's analysis of Diana's stomach contents proved to Operation Paget that Diana was not pregnant when she died. [11]

Later developments

On 3 April 2007, the deputy coroner of the Queen's Household, Baroness Butler-Sloss, decided to grant access to the evidence collected by the criminal investigation to lawyers for Mohammed Al-Fayed to assist them in putting together their case in support of the conspiracy allegation for the inquest to begin in October 2007. [12] On 15 May 2007, it was revealed by Baroness Butler-Sloss that the underlying material collected by the criminal investigation team ran to more than 11,000 pages when printed out and also consisted of more than 1,400 photographs, several DVDs, large-sized plans and other data. The material was substantially disclosed to the interested persons and legal teams. [13]

Coroner's inquest

The coroner's inquest opened on 2 October 2007, headed by Lord Justice Scott Baker. The opening statement mostly consisted of evidence and findings in the criminal investigation report. On 7 April 2008, the jury came to the verdict that Diana and Fayed were unlawfully killed as a result of "gross negligence" of the driver Henri Paul and the paparazzi. [2] Contributing factors cited included "the impairment of the judgment of the driver of the Mercedes Henri Paul through alcohol" and that "the deceased was not wearing a seatbelt". [14]

Related Research Articles

Inquests in England and Wales are held into sudden or unexplained deaths and also into the circumstances of and discovery of a certain class of valuable artefacts known as "treasure trove". In England and Wales, inquests are the responsibility of a coroner, who operates under the jurisdiction of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. In some circumstances where an inquest cannot view or hear all the evidence, it may be suspended and a public inquiry held with the consent of the Home Secretary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohamed Al-Fayed</span> Egyptian businessman (1929–2023)

Mohamed Abdel Moneim Al-Fayed was an Egyptian billionaire businessman, whose residence and primary business interests were in the United Kingdom from the mid-1960s. His business interests included ownership of the Hôtel Ritz Paris, Harrods department store and Fulham Football Club. At the time of his death in 2023, Forbes estimated his wealth at US$2 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coroner</span> Government official who confirms and certifies the death of an individual

A coroner is a government or judicial official who is empowered to conduct or order an inquest into the manner or cause of death. The official may also investigate or confirm the identity of an unknown person who has been found dead within the coroner's jurisdiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodi Fayed</span> Egyptian film producer (1955–1997)

Emad El-Din Mohamed Abdel Mena'em Fayed, commonly known as Dodi Fayed, was an Egyptian film producer and the eldest child of the businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed. He was romantically involved with Diana, Princess of Wales, when they both died in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paparazzi</span> Photographers who take candid pictures of celebrities

Paparazzi are independent photographers who take pictures of high-profile people; such as actors, musicians, athletes, politicians, and other celebrities who typically go about their daily life routines. Paparazzi tend to make a living by selling their photographs to media outlets that focus on tabloid journalism and sensationalism.

Trevor Rees-Jones is a British author and former bodyguard who was badly injured in the car crash in Paris that killed Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997. Because he sustained a serious head injury, he does not recall any details from the crash.

A licence to kill, or license to kill in American English, is a licence granted by a government or government agency to a particular operative or employee to initiate the use of lethal force in the delivery of their objectives. The initiation of lethal force is in contrast to the use of lethal force in self-defence or the protection of life. It is well known as a literary device used in espionage fiction.

In English law, Irish law and Northern Irish law, unlawful killing is a verdict that can be returned by an inquest in England and Wales and Ireland when someone has been killed by one or more unknown persons. The verdict means that the killing was done without lawful excuse and in breach of criminal law. This includes murder, manslaughter, infanticide and causing death by dangerous driving. A verdict of unlawful killing generally leads to a police investigation, with the aim of gathering sufficient evidence to identify, charge and prosecute those responsible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death of Diana, Princess of Wales</span> 1997 fatal car crash

During the early hours of 31 August 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, died from injuries sustained earlier that night in a fatal car crash in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris, France. Dodi Fayed, Diana's partner, and the driver of the Mercedes-Benz W140, Henri Paul, were found dead inside the car. Dodi's bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, was seriously injured and the only survivor of the crash.

Barry Albert Mannakee was a police officer with the Royal Protection Squad and bodyguard to Diana, Princess of Wales. Mannakee was transferred from his role as bodyguard for Diana following what was described as an "inappropriate" relationship between the two. Mannakee died in a road traffic accident in 1987, leading to a conspiracy theory that his death was not an accident. An inquest found no evidence of this.

<i>Diana: Last Days of a Princess</i> Television Film

Diana: Last Days of a Princess is a television movie broadcast in the United States by TLC on 12 August 2007 and subsequent dates. It also has aired on Five, UKTV History and UKTV Drama in the United Kingdom, RTÉ in Ireland, ProSieben in Germany, TF1 in France, RTP in Portugal, Channel 7 in Australia, Channel One in Russia, Jim in Finland and the History Channel in India.

An inquest is a judicial inquiry in common law jurisdictions, particularly one held to determine the cause of a person's death. Conducted by a judge, jury, or government official, an inquest may or may not require an autopsy carried out by a coroner or medical examiner. Generally, inquests are conducted only when deaths are sudden or unexplained. An inquest may be called at the behest of a coroner, judge, prosecutor, or, in some jurisdictions, upon a formal request from the public. A coroner's jury may be convened to assist in this type of proceeding. Inquest can also mean such a jury and the result of such an investigation. In general usage, inquest is also used to mean any investigation or inquiry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pont de l'Alma</span> Road bridge in Paris, France

The Pont de l'Alma is a road bridge in Paris, France, across the Seine. It was named to commemorate the Battle of Alma during the Crimean War, in which the Ottoman-Franco-British alliance achieved victory over the Russian army in 1854. The bridge is known for being the site of the car crash that caused the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.

Paul Burrell is a former servant of the British Royal Household and latterly butler to Diana, Princess of Wales.

Alexandra Shân "Tiggy" Pettifer is a British former nanny and companion to Prince William and Prince Harry. She was a personal assistant to Charles III from 1993 to 1999. She has used her married name since her marriage to Charles Pettifer in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conspiracy theories about the death of Diana, Princess of Wales</span>

There are many conspiracy theories surrounding the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, on 31 August 1997. Official investigations in both Britain and France found that Diana died in a manner consistent with media reports following the fatal car crash in Paris. In 1999, a French investigation concluded that Diana died as the result of a crash. French investigator, Judge Hervé Stephan, concluded that the paparazzi were some distance from the Mercedes S280 when it crashed and were not responsible for manslaughter. After hearing evidence at the British inquest, a jury in 2008 returned a verdict of "unlawful killing" by driver Henri Paul and the paparazzi pursuing the car. The jury's verdict also stated: "In addition, the death of the deceased was caused or contributed to by the fact that the deceased were not wearing a seat belt and by the fact that the Mercedes struck the pillar in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel rather than colliding with something else."

Paul Knapman DL was Her Majesty's coroner for Westminster, from 1980 to 2011. His responsibility for investigating sudden deaths as an independent judicial officer saw him preside over numerous notable cases.

Unlawful Killing is a 2011 British documentary film about the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi Fayed on 31 August 1997 directed by Keith Allen and financed by Dodi's father Mohamed Al-Fayed at a reported cost of £2.5m. It had a single trade screening during the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.

<i>Innocent Victims</i> Statue of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed displayed in Harrods between 2005–2018

Innocent Victims is a copper statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi Fayed, which was on display at the Harrods department store in London, England, between 2005 and 2018. It was commissioned by Dodi's father Mohamed Al-Fayed when he owned Harrods, and designed by William Mitchell.

Kelly Movshina, previously known as Kelly Fisher, is an American property developer and former model. Throughout her modeling career, she appeared in advertisement campaigns for fashion brands including Calvin Klein, Victoria's Secret, Armani, and La Perla. She was featured on the covers of Vogue, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, W and Elle.

References

  1. Rayner, Gordon (7 April 2008). "Diana jury blames paparazzi and Henri Paul for her 'unlawful killing'". Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 3 May 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Princess Diana unlawfully killed". BBC. 7 April 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  3. "Met chief will lead Diana probe". BBC. 7 January 2004. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  4. "Chronology – Diana's death and its aftermath". Reuters. 7 April 2008. Archived from the original on 14 June 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  5. "Met boss makes Diana death pledge". BBC. 26 April 2004. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  6. "Police hunt for new Diana clues". BBC. 16 February 2005. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  7. "Diana death a 'tragic accident'". BBC. 14 December 2006. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  8. "At-a-glance: Diana death inquiry". BBC. 14 December 2006. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  9. "Diana Met inquiry cost nears £2m". BBC. 10 August 2005. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  10. "Diana inquiry costs exceed £12m". BBC News. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2008.
  11. Warren, Jane (18 February 2019). "Cold Case Queen". Daily Express . London. Retrieved 27 March 2022 via PressReader.
  12. "Diana police files 'to be shown'". BBC News. 3 April 2007.
  13. "Inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Mr Dodi Al Fayed: Opening statement for a Pre-Inquest Hearing". The National Archives (United Kingdom). 15 May 2007. Archived from the original on 7 June 2009.
  14. "Coroner's Inquest into the Deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Mr Dodi Al Fayed. Hearing transcripts: 7 April 2008 – Verdict of the jury". The National Archives (United Kingdom). Archived from the original on 7 June 2009.