Paparazzi evidence to Diana jury..bbc

Paparazzi evidence to Diana jury

Paparazzi in police line-up Enlarge Image

A paparazzi photographer has been summoned to give evidence at the London inquest into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed in 1997.

Mr Darmon will appear at the High Court hearing via video link from Paris.

Stephane Darmon was among seven people arrested at the scene of the Paris car crash which killed the pair.

The jury has been told it must decide if paparazzi actions contributed to the crash, or created an environment in which the victims of the accident died.

Last week the hearing heard how the badly injured Diana spoke as she lay in the wreckage of the Mercedes car while photographers took pictures.

No power

Volunteer firefighter Damian Dalby said he heard her repeat the words: "Oh my God," after he had run towards the smoking car to try to help.

He said he was not hampered by the handful of photographers who had gathered.

Another witness said he heard a photographer shout: "She's alive."

The hearing is to focus this week on the actions of the paparazzi surrounding the princess's death.

But BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt says that, even if the paparazzi involved turn up at the Palais de Justice in Paris - where the video link is set up - coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker has no power to force them to give evidence.

The princess, her companion Dodi Al Fayed and driver Henri Paul died as a result of the crash in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel on 31 August 1997.