(714 words) Princess Diana’s last hours A reconstruction: What took place 20 years ago in the Alma tunnel in Paris Ambulance drives slowly to prevent exacerbating internal injuries Crash site in Alma underpass Slow moving white Fiat Uno Mercedes driven by Henri Paul Witnesses testify Mercedes is being chased by photographers on motorcycles Cours Albert 1er Voie Georges Pompidou Avenue de President Wilson Place de l’Alma Avenue Montaigne Cours Albert 1er Pont de l’Alma RIVER SEINE ——————— Alma tunnel • Henri Paul is driving Mercedes S280, capable of about 210km/h • Princess Diana and Dodi al-Fayed sit in rear seats. Only bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones is wearing seatbelt • On hitting pillar, two front airbags deploy. Whole front end of S280 crumples, as it is designed to do. • Momentum makes car spin round before coming to rest, horn blaring. • Driver and al-Fayed are dead, having both suffered rupture of aortic artery and fractured spine. Rees-Jones suffers injuries to face and chest – his life is saved by seatbelt and airbag • Princess Diana found in gap between front and rear seats, barely conscious, with head and chest injuries Evidence suggests that Mercedes has glancing contact with white Fiat Uno about 20m from entrance to underpass Skid marks for 19 metres Broken tail-light and bumper samples from Fiat Uno Broken headlight from Mercedes Skid marks for 32 metres Mercedes – travelling at about 100km/h – hits 13th pillar in underpass Mercedes rebounds and spins 180° Princess Diana Dodi al-Fayed Trevor Rees-Jones Henry Pau ———— Diana inquiries Sep 2, 1997 – French inquiry: Official inquiry opens, headed by judges Herve Stephan and Marie-Christine Devidal Sep 18: Witnesses describe slow-moving white Fiat Uno entering Alma tunnel prior to accident – car is never found Sep 3, 1999 – French report published: Stephan publishes 6,000-page report placing blame on driver Paul, concluding he was drunk and under influence of antidepressants Nine paparazzi and one press motorcyclist cleared of manslaughter charges Aug 29, 2003 – British inquest: Royal coroner Michael Burgess announces inquest into deaths of Diana and Dodi Jan 6, 2004 – Operation Paget: Metropolitan police commissioner Sir John Stevens begins criminal investigation into deaths and allegations of cover-up Dec 14, 2006 – Paget report published: Three-year inquiry – which brings together 1,500 witness statements – finds there is no evidence that Diana and Dodi were murdered and there was no cover-up. Metropolitan Police concludes crash was “tragic accident” Oct 2, 2007 – Coroner’s inquest begins: Hearing opens 10 years and 32 days after death of Diana. Lord Justice Scott Baker tells 11 jurors at London’s Royal Courts of Justice to “fully and fearlessly” examine whether there is any truth in claims that Diana was assassinated Apr 7, 2008 – verdict: After listening to evidence from 268 witnesses, jury fails to reach unanimous verdict. By a majority of 9-2, jury returns verdicts of unlawful killing as result of “gross negligence” of Mercedes driver Henri Paul and paparazzi. Chronology of events Aug 30, 1997: Princess Diana and Dodi al-Fayed fly by private jet from Sardinia to Paris 21:30: Dodi’s planned romantic dinner at Chez Benoit is ruined because couple are hounded by some 30 photographers. They decide to dine at Ritz Hotel 23:37: After dinner, couple decide to drive to Dodi’s apartment. Dodi plans diversion to escape paparazzi by leaving from back of hotel in unmarked car Aug 31, 00:20: Mercedes carrying Diana, Dodi, bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones and driver Henri Paul, leaves Ritz 00:23: Mercedes crashes into pillar in Alma tunnel, killing Dodi and Paul. Rees-Jones and Diana are seriously injured 01:00: Specialist intensive care doctor and paramedics free Diana from wreckage. While being treated at site she suffers cardiac arrest 01:41: Ambulance leaves for Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital 02:00: Fearing further heart attack ambulance stops near Gare d’Austerlitz. Doctor stabilizes Diana’s blood pressure 02:06: On arrival at hospital Diana is unconscious. Surgeons work for nearly two hours to repair tear in pulmonary vein. During this period she suffers another heart attack 04:00: Diana, Princess of Wales is pronounced dead Sardinia Paris Dodi al-Fayed’s apartment Ritz Hotel Chez Benoit restaurant Hôtel-Dieu hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital Gare d’Austerlitz Sources: Operation Paget, National Archive © GOLDEN SECTION GRAPHICS / GRAPHIC NEWS Photos: Associated Press, Getty Images