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SEPTEMBER 3, 1997 SPECIAL REPORT: PRINCESS DIANA, 1961-1997 PHOTOGS FACE INVESTIGATION Seven paparazzi -- including one aggressive photographer said to have felt the dying Princess Diana's pulse after snapping shots of her fatal car wreck -- have been officially placed under investigation for possible charges of involuntary homicide in the deaths of Diana, her companion Dodi Al Fayed and driver Henri Paul, French magistrate Herve Stephan declared Tuesday. They will also be investigated for failing to aid people in danger, a crime under the French "Good Samaritan" law requiring onlookers to assist road-accident victims. In France, "involuntary homicide" is the equivalent of manslaughter. It does not mean the photographers, who were all arrested at the crash scene Sunday morning, will necessarily be formally charged with any crimes. Both involuntary homicide and Good Samaritan violations can be punished by up to five years in prison and fines of almost $100,000. (You can read more stories about the life of Princess Diana, including an account of her recent trip to the United States for charities. Click here) POLICE REPORT BEHAVIOR New details on the photographers' alleged role in the crash that killed Princess Diana have emerged, with a Paris police report saying paparazzi pushed back the first officer on the scene as he tried to reach the victims. Until more police arrived to help him, the officer was kept so far from the car that the only glimpse of Diana he was able to glimpse was "a blonde head," the French daily Le Figaro reported Wednesday, quoting from the first reports scribbled by investigators 20 minutes after the crash. It did not name the photographers involved in the scuffle. American tourists who witnessed the incident told reporters on Tuesday that the police officer had been able to reach the car but was unable to keep more than one photographer at a time at bay. CONDITION OF BODYGUARD Diana's bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, the only survivor of Sunday's car crash, is out of danger, but his face is entirely crushed, according to Georges Kiejman, a lawyer for the Al Fayed family. "It will be weeks before he is able to speak to investigators," Kiejman told journalists. Rees-Jones, 29, was sitting in the front passenger seat of the luxury Mercedes Benz when it smashed into a pillar in a Paris road tunnel. According to safety experts, he was probably saved because he was wearing a seat belt and hit an airbag. Experts believe that Diana and Dodi, who were in the rear seat, had not buckled up. NEW REVELATION FROM PARIS Paris newspapers report that chauffeur Henri Paul's blood alcohol level may have been almost four times the French legal limit at the time of the crash -- higher than originally believed. CHARLES CANCELS TRIPS Prince Charles has canceled all engagements through next week, including a trip to Berlin and Prague, due to Princess Diana's death, Buckingham Palace has said. Charles has been with his sons, Prince William, 15, and Prince Harry, 12, since the accident. Charles had been due to go to Berlin on Sept. 8 for events associated with his Institute of Architecture's urban design task force. He also had planned to fly to Prague Sept. 9 to open the newly reconstructed Palffy garden near Prague Castle with President Vaclav Havel. The palace said Charles has also canceled a visit next week to attend an annual trade fair in central England. PRINCE WILLIAM'S PARTICIPATION Prince William, 15, is insisting on walking behind Diana's coffin on its poignant journey to Westminster Abbey, reports the Sun, Britain's leading tabloid. The future king says it is what his mother would have wanted. The Express, citing a senior Buckingham Palace source, said William has shown great courage and maturity and is determined to have his say in the funeral arrangements. These could include a song by Elton John, who was comforted with a hug by Diana only seven weeks ago when they attended the funeral of murdered Italian designer Gianni Versace. Unconfirmed reports say Prince Charles opposes William's plan and that the Palace considers a pop star's performing on this occasion to be "unsuitable." HILLARY TO ATTEND FUNERAL First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton will attend Saturday's funeral of Diana, the White House has said. In announcing the decision, the White House said that it was not appropriate for President Clinton to attend the service because it was not a state funeral and that there would be no official U.S. delegation. V.I.P. GUEST LIST Buckingham Palace has invited Mother Teresa and Sonia Gandhi, widow of India's former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, to attend the Saturday funeral, reports the Press Trust of India. It is unknown if ailing Mother Teresa will fly to London to attend the services. Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti was asked to sing at the ceremony but said he is too upset to attend. "I don't have the strength to take myself to London," he told the Daily Telegraph. FERGIE AD: BAD TIMING Weight Watchers is halting a new ad campaign in which the Duchess of York says losing weight is "harder than outrunning the paparazzi." Tens of thousands of brochures with the line were mailed to homes last week before Princess Diana, the duchess' former sister-in-law, was killed in a Paris car wreck while being pursued by paparazzi. "The duchess certainly is sensitive to the situation, and it's just unfortunate that the mailing went out when it did," said publicist Howard Rubenstein, whose agency set up the campaign. Weight Watchers cancelled a press conference with Fergie that was to take place on Thursday. TO REMEMBER DIANA An official charity fund in memory of Princess Diana was announced Tuesday to receive contributions to her causes. Cash from the official memorial fund, administered by Kensington Palace, will be distributed to charities linked with Diana, such as the Red Cross; Centrepoint, which helps young homeless people in Britain; the National AIDS Trust; and the Leprosy Mission. Administrators said checks should be made out to: "The Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Fund." The mailing address is Kensington Palace, London, W8 4PU, United Kingdom. Messages of condolence can be sent to the same address. The law firm representing Diana, Mishcon de Reya, said donations to the fund could also be sent to: PO Box 1, London, WC1B 5HW, United Kingdom. |
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-STEVEN M. SILVERMAN -PEOPLE DAILY | ||||||
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