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Princess Diana – Case Closed?
By Alasdair Gray, England
On the 7th of April, the six-month inquest into Diana, Princess of Wales' death reached its long awaited conclusion. The jury ruled that she and her boyfriend, Dodi Al Fayed were unlawfully killed due to the "gross negligence" of driver Henri Paul and the paparazzi that pursued them across Paris in 1997. Although the paparazzi were found partially responsible for her death French prosecutors ruled out any possibility of bringing any of them before a court.
"This most recent inquest has dragged into the public eye much of Diana’s personal life that many argue does nothing more than drag her memory through the gutter. One of Diana’s closest friends described the inquest as “incredibly intrusive” and painful for her two sons." -Alasdair Gray
Dodi Al Fayed's father, Mohamed, released a statement following the trial in which he revoked the jury's verdict. "I'm not the only one who thinks they were murdered" he said. In his statement, he also justified the need for this inquest, saying that it had proven that the two police investigations - that had been brought against him over the ten years since Diana's death - were "wrong". He went on to say that the findings of both investigations could now be categorically "dismissed" in light of the new evidence brought to light in this latest inquest.
This trial has been the source of great debate as its necessity and benefit have been called into question. It has been said that the whole inquest - that is estimated to have cost the taxpayer up to ten million pounds - was just a waste of money and time. However in his statement, Mr. Al Fayed maintained that the inquest was "required by law" and that it was the coroner who decided everything from the cost and scope to the witnesses called.
This most recent inquest has dragged into the public eye much of Diana's personal life that many argue does nothing more than drag her memory through the gutter. One of Diana's closest friends described the inquest as "incredibly intrusive" and painful for her two sons. Despite this, Princess William and Harry released a joint statement thanking all involved in the inquest and said that they hoped that this verdict would finally put an "end to it all".
It looks hopeful that the Princes may be able to finally put their mother's death to rest now as Mr. Al Fayed - speaking on ITV News at Ten - said that he will not be taking Diana's case any further for the sake of her two sons. Although he persisted that he had reservations over the outcome of the inquest, he said, "Enough is enough. I am leaving the rest to God to get my revenge."
Mr. Al Fayed's choice of language - in what a vast portion of the British population are begging will be the last interview he holds regarding the princess' death - must lead us to question his motives behind dragging this case through the courts. "I am leaving the rest to God to get my revenge."
Without any mention of his son, Mr. Al Fayed gives the impression that he may have been looking to gain personally from these inquests. Although his apparent aim was to uncover the truth behind the ‘suspicious deaths' of his son and Princess Diana, perhaps these are the actions of a man who came bitterly close to mixing with royalty only to have it all taken swiftly away, or simply a father looking to find some justice or closure over the death of his son.
It is unlikely that we will ever know exactly what happened on the tragic night when the world lost one of the most iconic women of the twentieth century. However, one thing is now crystal clear - the only person to lose anything from these inquests is Diana herself. Maybe now, with her dignity in taters, after having every aspect of her life torn apart, we can now leave her to rest peacefully as the caring princess, and mother who was a national and global treasure until the day she died.
