Wills, Harry 'agree' with verdict
2008-04-08 10:21
London - Princes William and Harry, Princess Diana's two sons, said in a statement on Monday that they "agree" with the verdict of unlawful killing in the inquest into their mother's death.
"We agree with their verdicts, and are both hugely grateful to each and every one of them (the members of the inquest jury) for the forbearance they have shown in accepting such significant disruption to their lives over the past six months," the statement released by Clarence House said.
Jurors returned verdicts of unlawful killing through grossly negligent driving, blaming chauffeur Henri Paul's driving and paparazzi photographers pursuing their car at high speed in the 1997 deaths of the then 36-year-old princess, her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and Paul.
"We should like to thank the members of the jury at the inquests into the deaths of our mother and Dodi Al Fayed for the thorough way in which they have considered the evidence," the brothers' statement added.
Gratitude
They said they were "indebted to the Coroner, Lord Justice Scott Baker, for his unfailing courtesy, and for all the consideration shown by him and his staff not only to us but to all those involved in this hearing.
"We are particularly grateful to (the couple's bodyguard) Trevor Rees, and to others who came forward to give evidence - in many cases reawakening their painful and personal memories.
"Finally, the two of us would like to express our most profound gratitude to all those who fought so desperately to save our mother's life on that tragic night."
The 11-member jury added that the fact that Diana and Fayed were not wearing seatbelts contributed to their deaths.
In a statement read by Mohamed Al Fayed's spokesperson, Dodi's father said that the jury found that "it wasn't just the paparazzi who caused the crash, but unidentified following vehicles.
"Who they are and what they were doing in Paris is still a mystery," he added.