UK:IN THE aftermath of the Paris crash photographers and press motorcyclists were hauled in by French police for questioning. The inquest heard that some took photographs of the scene from less than two metres away, with the dead and seriously injured clearly visible inside the mangled Mercedes, and while passers-by tried to help.
Fifteen photographers were arrested and nine were charged with manslaughter, but the charges were thrown out in 2002 and only three - Jacques Langevin, Christian Martinez and Fabrice Chassery - were convicted of invasion of privacy for taking pictures of Diana and Dodi. They were fined €1 each in 2006.
Just one member of the paparazzi group, motorcyclist Stephane Darmon, agreed to attend the inquest, and the coroner warned that their police statements, taken after the 1997 crash while they were suspects in French criminal investigations and read out in court, should be treated with caution. On several points he questioned the accuracy of their claims.
First at the crash site were Mr Darmon with Romuald Rat, Christian Martinez and Serge Arnal, who all took photographs. Serge Benhamou was not far behind.
Mr Rat, who was being driven by Mr Darmon, said in his statement that he was one of the "leading pursuers", describing a scene that included three to four motorcycles and maybe two or three scooters and several cars.
In the tunnel, Mr Rat claimed, he got onlookers away from the car and then went back and opened the door. But the coroner said: "That is plainly untrue when you look at the photographs that were taken."
The coroner also dismissed as incorrect Mr Rat's claim that he only began to take pictures after a doctor arrived. Mr Darmon said he expected the paparazzi to help the passengers but was shocked when they begab taking photographs.
Despite yesterday's verdict, the UK Crown Prosecution Service said no British prosecution was possible because the incident had occurred on foreign soil and involved foreign nationals.
Two paparazzi arrested at the scene, Nikola Arsov and Jacques Langevin, told British TV they were not responsible. Mr Arsov said it was "wrong" to blame photographers. "It was the driver, it was alcohol, it was speed - it wasn't us."
- (Guardian service)