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Reaction to the verdicts | The remaining questions | What now for Al Fayed? | What we learnt | The key moments
Romuald Rat
Boasted that he was “among the leading pursuers” of the Mercedes. Claimed
that he got onlookers away from the car before he opened the door, a
statement the coroner said was “plainly untrue”. He was riding pillion on a
motorcycle driven by Stéphane Darmon.
Serge Arnal
Drove a black Fiat Uno with Christian Martinez as his passenger. Claimed that
he did not get his camera out until ten minutes after he arrived at the
scene. The coroner said: “That cannot be true.”
Jacques Langevin
Saw people blocking the underpass entrance while on his way to a friend’s
house and took pictures. “It is strange for me because we have to share the
blame,” he said after the verdict. “The conclusion [of the French police]
was that it was an accident. So I don’t understand why the jury is talking
about photographers.”
Nikola Arsov
Missed the departure of the Mercedes from the Ritz but saw Stéphane Darmon
near the tunnel on his way to the Sipa agency office. He took photographs,
which he said did not come out because his flash was not plugged in.
Laslo Veres
Went to the underpass on his Piaggio scooter after the crash. The police let
him through the cordon and he took some pictures.
Christian Martinez
Was among the first to arrive at the accident. Claimed that “Henri Paul was
going much too fast . . . maybe he swerved to avoid a vehicle that was
travelling very slowly in front of him. Then he lost control of the car.”
The coroner asked the jury how Martinez could have known that.
Stéphane Darmon
Driver for Rat. The only member of the paparazzi to give evidence. He said
that no one else was closer to the Mercedes.
— Seven other photographers and their drivers gave evidence to the police, though none of them attended the inquest. They were: Serge Benhamou, David Odekerken, Fabrice Chassery, Pierre Suu, Pierre Hounsfield, Stéphane Cardinale and Alain Guizard.
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Isn't it about time that paparazzi were distinguished from the legitimate press and not afforded the 'freedom of the press' which carries enormous reponsibility as well as necessary freedoms. Restrictions on paparazzi harassment, assault and invasion of privacy is well overdue.
Gary Scanlan, Brisbane,