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Burrell not to face perjury probe Burrell not to face perjury probe
(20 minutes later)
Princess Diana's former butler Paul Burrell will not be investigated over allegations of perjury at the inquest into her death, Scotland Yard has said.Princess Diana's former butler Paul Burrell will not be investigated over allegations of perjury at the inquest into her death, Scotland Yard has said.
Police said there was "insufficient admissible evidence" to prove perjury.Police said there was "insufficient admissible evidence" to prove perjury.
In a video obtained by the Sun, Mr Burrell appeared to claim he introduced "red herrings" and held back facts during his evidence to the inquest.In a video obtained by the Sun, Mr Burrell appeared to claim he introduced "red herrings" and held back facts during his evidence to the inquest.
The coroner said it was "blindingly obvious" he had lied but Mr Burrell denied any wrongdoing.The coroner said it was "blindingly obvious" he had lied but Mr Burrell denied any wrongdoing.
Scotland Yard launched a preliminary police inquiry last month, saying it had a duty to investigate following a complaint.Scotland Yard launched a preliminary police inquiry last month, saying it had a duty to investigate following a complaint.
But in a statement, it said it had reviewed the available evidence and sought the view of both the Crown Prosecution Service and the coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker.
"As a result we have reached the decision that there is insufficient admissible evidence to prove that an offence of perjury has occurred and therefore do not believe it to be appropriate to instigate a police investigation," it said.
At the end of the inquest, the coroner said of Mr Burrell that "it was blindingly obvious that the evidence that he gave in this court was not the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth".
He also cast doubt on Mr Burrell's conversation with the Queen several months after the August 1997 crash, in which he claimed that the Queen told him "there are powers at work in this country of which we have no knowledge".
'Red herrings'
But Lord Justice Scott Baker decided against referring the matter to the police.
Mr Burrell, 49, had refused to return to the UK from the US to reappear at the inquest.
In the video recording obtained by the Sun, Mr Burrell apparently claimed that he introduced "red herrings" during his evidence and held back facts.
Mr Burrell's conversation was recorded in a New York hotel on 18 February after he gave evidence to the inquest a month before.
Sections of the transcript of the conversation were read to the jury at the High Court.
In it, Mr Burrell said he had made the 500-mile round trip from London to his home in Cheshire to pick up documents for the coroner because he had to "play the game".
In the transcript, Mr Burrell said: "I sacrificed my own integrity for the bigger picture, but people are wise enough to realise that.
'Showing off'
"Perjury isn't a very nice thing to have to consider."
A witness statement made on 26 February was also read to the jury, in which he said in his evidence to the inquest he had not concealed "anything remotely relevant to the inquiry".
"I accept that whilst I was under cross-examination my evidence may at times have strayed from the strictly relevant, but at no time did I tell any untruths."
He said the conversation took place he was "tired and depressed and had been drinking all evening".
During the conversation, he was "showing off", he added.
The inquest jury found that the princess and Dodi Al Fayed were unlawfully killed due to the "gross negligence" of driver Henri Paul and the paparazzi.