Bodyguard denies being part of murder cover-up
- 00:03:05
- ITN
Bodyguard denies being part of murder cover-up
The only person to survive the car crash which killed Princess Diana has denied he was part of a murder cover-up.Former bodyguard Trevor Rees told the inquest into the Princess of Wales' death: "I am not part of a conspiracy to suppress the truth at all. All I have ever done is given the truth as I see it."Mr Rees, who still bears scars from the crash along the side of his face, was responding to claims put to him by Ian Burnett, QC for the Coroner.Mr Burnett outlined claims by Mohamed al Fayed that Diana was murdered.He explained: "What is being suggested by Mohamed al Fayed is that you are part of a conspiracy to suppress the truth that his son, the Princess of Wales and Henri Paul were murdered by the British security services, MI6, call them what you will."In addition to denying being part of a murder cover-up, Mr Rees told the court it had been Dodi's idea to leave by the rear of the hotel as a decoy plan to avoid the crowds of papparazzi at the front of the hotel.He said he had had reservations about the plan, but decided not to force the issue as Dodi had wanted to leave without security.Mr Rees said: "That's when I made a decision to say to Dodi or Henri Paul - I can't remember which - that that wouldn't happen."I would travel in the vehicle with them if that was the plan we were going ahead with. Again I advised them that we could leave from the front of the hotel."I was conscious of the fact that if I kept pushing the point that the initial decision to leave without security would have prevailed so I made a decision to go with the compromise to no security and deal with the issues ...later."Mr Rees was later taken through CCTV from the Ritz in Paris showing the last movements of Diana, Dodi, the security chief and himself before they left the exclusive hotel just after midnight on August 31, 1997.Michael Mansfield QC, representing Mohamed al Fayed, suggested to the former bodyguard over a number of questions that the images revealed it was highly likely Mr Paul and not Dodi mentioned the change of plan to leave from the rear of the building.Mr Rees said: "As I said my memory of (events) was of Dodi informing me of the plan, looking at the CCTV footage I accept that it would have been Henri Paul (who) informed me."The lawyer said the footage also revealed there was only a 28-second window where he could have had a debate with Dodi about the plan and that it did not take place.Asked to accept it was unlikely he had a strong conversation with Dodi about the arrangements for leaving the Ritz, Mr Rees replied: "I believe I have been quite consistent all along."I insisted I would go with the couple from the rear of the hotel. I believe that is a consistent memory I have."Mr Burnett went on to ask Mr Rees about claims Diana had chosen an engagement ring from the Repossi jeweller's shop when she and Dodi came ashore at Monte Carlo while holidaying on Mohamed al Fayed's yacht in August 1997.Mr Rees, who accompanied the Princess and Dodi while they walked around the city, denied that a ring was bought or even that they were on a shopping trip.He told the inquest: "(It was) basically a walk around Monte Carlo, it wasn't a stroll. It turned into more of a steady walk rather than window shopping."Mr Rees was then asked about his book, The Bodyguard's Story, which he wrote about the fatal car accident.Mr Burnett asked: "It has also been alleged by Mr al Fayed that the book was written either by or at the behest of the security services, in particular MI6. Is there any truth in that?"Mr Rees replied: "None whatsoever."There has been feverish anticipation surrounding Mr Rees' testimony, but the jury sitting at the High Court in London has been warned the former bodyguard has little memory of the accident.Mr al Fayed has accused Mr Rees of lying over the loss of his memory, a charge that was put to him in court and which he denied, saying: "I have no memory after leaving the back of the (Ritz) hotel, that's my last true memory."Psychiatrist Dr Maurice Lipsedge told the hearing on Tuesday, in a written statement, that the bodyguard only remembered getting into the Mercedes with Diana, Dodi and Mr Paul but nothing after that.© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.
ITN | January 23, 2008
