The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #172026   Message #4162241
Posted By: Dave the Gnome
12-Jan-23 - 01:59 PM
Thread Name: BS: Harry Duke of Sussex
Subject: RE: BS: Harry Duke of Sussex
Dick. An inquest is not a court of law. The coroner is not there to give an innocent or guilty verdict but did conclude with an unlawful killing verdict. This could result in a criminal prosecution but British courts do not have the jurisdiction to try events in France and the coroner was not able to compel French paparazzi photographers to appear before the inquest. An earlier French investigation of the crash cleared the paparazzi photographers of responsibilty for the deaths.

From the report in the Guardian -

The jury forewoman told the coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker that the deaths had been caused by "grossly negligent driving".

She added from a prepared text: "The crash was caused or contributed to by the speed and manner of the driving of the Mercedes, the speed and manner of driving of the following vehicles, the impairment of the judgment of the driver of the Mercedes through alcohol, and there are nine of us who agree on those conclusions. In addition, the death of the deceased was caused or contributed to by the fact that the deceased [were] not wearing seatbelt(s), the fact that the Mercedes struck the pillar in the Alma Tunnel rather than colliding with something else, and we are unanimous on that, sir."


I must also point out that the driver was no mere chauffeur but the acting head of security at the Hotel, owned by Dodi Fayad's father. It was in Fayed's interets to try and move the blame for his son's death away from his own employee.