British Court Finds No Conspiracy Behind Princess Di’s Death

A British court ruled that there was no conspiracy behind the death of Princess Diana. The verdict comes 11 years after a car crash killed the princess.

Jurors of London’s high court delivered their verdict on Monday, finding that Princess Diana and her lover, Dodi Fayed, were killed by negligent driving due to the princess’s chauffer and paparazzi, reported British media, including the Guardian.

After hearing from 279 witnesses, including the former director of the foreign intelligence service, a royal steward, Diana’s family members and relatives, and former boyfriends, over a six month period, which cost 6.5 million pounds or 12.6 billion won, jurors returned their verdict by a majority of 9-2.

Before the announcing their decision, the jurors engaged in a 22-hour-long fierce debate but failed to meet the judge’s initial demand to reach a consensus.

Their verdict effectively denied the widely-spread conspiracy theory that the British royal family, including Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, and the secret intelligence service, murdered the princess.

On Aug. 31, 1997, Princess Diana and Fayed, who left the Hôtel Ritz Paris, died after their Mercedes-Benz crashed into the 13th pillar of the Pont de l`Alma tunnel while trying to elude paparazzi, who chased after them in cars and on motorbikes.

“The accident occurred due to the high speed of the Mercedes-Benz, paparazzi vehicles, and the lapse of judgment of the Mercedes’ driver, who was driving under the influence of alcohol,” said jurors. “Both Diana and Fayed didn’t fasten their seat belts and the car crashed into a pillar made of cement. These were the factors that led to their death,” they added.

The jury closely looked into allegations ranging from the possibility that Diana was pregnant to the rumor that they were killed to prevent her from having a Muslim baby. But they found no such supporting evidence.

Before the verdict, both French and British police concluded the death of the princess came from a tragic accident and not from any conspiracy.

Her two sons, William and Harry, said in a statement that they accepted the jurors’ verdict and thanked them for thoroughly scrutinizing all the evidence.

pisong@donga.com