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'No evidence' of Diana pregnancy 'No evidence' of Diana pregnancy
(9 minutes later)
"Intimate" details of Princess Diana's life will be heard at the inquest into her death, but evidence of pregnancy may never be known, a judge has said."Intimate" details of Princess Diana's life will be heard at the inquest into her death, but evidence of pregnancy may never be known, a judge has said.
Lord Justice Scott Baker said scientific evidence might not be able to demonstrate either way that she was pregnant when she died in a car crash.Lord Justice Scott Baker said scientific evidence might not be able to demonstrate either way that she was pregnant when she died in a car crash.
On the second day of the inquest, he said there was evidence Diana had been using the contraceptive pill. And, he added, there was evidence she had been using the contraceptive pill.
Her ex-butler Paul Burrell could be called to give evidence. He also said there was contradictory evidence about whether Diana was poised to become engaged to Dodi Al Fayed.
The judge also said there was contradictory evidence about whether Diana was poised to become engaged to Dodi Al Fayed on 31 August, 1997 - the night they both died in a car crash in a Paris tunnel. Diana and Mr Al Fayed both died in a car crash in a Paris tunnel on 31 August, 1997, along with their driver Henri Paul.
It is likely that pregnancy is a matter that cannot be proved one way or the other in scientific terms in this case Justice Scott BakerDiana inquestIt is likely that pregnancy is a matter that cannot be proved one way or the other in scientific terms in this case Justice Scott BakerDiana inquest
As Mr Al Fayed's father Mohamed maintains that the pair were killed to stop them marrying, the issue of pregnancy is one of 20 to be addressed by the inquest in London.As Mr Al Fayed's father Mohamed maintains that the pair were killed to stop them marrying, the issue of pregnancy is one of 20 to be addressed by the inquest in London.
Lord Justice Scott Baker said it was relevant: "First, her pregnancy or suspected pregnancy is said to have provided the motive or part of the motive for killing Diana.Lord Justice Scott Baker said it was relevant: "First, her pregnancy or suspected pregnancy is said to have provided the motive or part of the motive for killing Diana.
"Second, her body was embalmed by the French and it is said that the purpose of this was to conceal that she was pregnant.""Second, her body was embalmed by the French and it is said that the purpose of this was to conceal that she was pregnant."
No pregnancy test was carried out on Diana at the Paris hospital where she was taken after the accident as there appeared to be no reason to do so.No pregnancy test was carried out on Diana at the Paris hospital where she was taken after the accident as there appeared to be no reason to do so.
Later in a post-mortem examination no evidence was detected that she was in the early stages of pregnancy, but the jurors would hear evidence about how much a post-mortem examiner can see physical signs of early pregnancy.Later in a post-mortem examination no evidence was detected that she was in the early stages of pregnancy, but the jurors would hear evidence about how much a post-mortem examiner can see physical signs of early pregnancy.
Mohamed Al Fayed believes the pair were deliberately killedMohamed Al Fayed believes the pair were deliberately killed
"It is likely that pregnancy is a matter that cannot be proved one way or the other in scientific terms in this case," Justice Baker told the jurors."It is likely that pregnancy is a matter that cannot be proved one way or the other in scientific terms in this case," Justice Baker told the jurors.
"You will, of course, consider the scientific evidence such as it is but you will also hear evidence from several sources about what Diana had to say to her friends, and intimate details of her personal life.""You will, of course, consider the scientific evidence such as it is but you will also hear evidence from several sources about what Diana had to say to her friends, and intimate details of her personal life."
The coroner also told the jury there was a differing range of evidence as to whether Diana's driver on the night of the crash, Henri Paul, was drunk. The coroner also told the jury there was a differing range of evidence as to whether Mr Paul, who was driving on the night of the crash, was drunk.
He said that while samples indicated Mr Paul was over the UK drink-drive limit, witnesses reported seeing no obvious sign of intoxication that night.He said that while samples indicated Mr Paul was over the UK drink-drive limit, witnesses reported seeing no obvious sign of intoxication that night.
"There is a major issue over whether or not he was unfit to drive through drink or drugs but also whether evidence has been fabricated or made up to suggest that he was drunk when, in truth, he was not.""There is a major issue over whether or not he was unfit to drive through drink or drugs but also whether evidence has been fabricated or made up to suggest that he was drunk when, in truth, he was not."
'In the dock''In the dock'
Outside the inquest, Mohamed Al Fayed criticised the coroner's opening remarks.Outside the inquest, Mohamed Al Fayed criticised the coroner's opening remarks.
Mr Al Fayed's spokesman Michael Cole said: "The lawyers had been led to believe that it would be a very neutral outline of the case ahead.Mr Al Fayed's spokesman Michael Cole said: "The lawyers had been led to believe that it would be a very neutral outline of the case ahead.
"But contentious and disputed matters were introduced at a very early stage - and that could have presented the appearance of bias, whether it was intended or not.""But contentious and disputed matters were introduced at a very early stage - and that could have presented the appearance of bias, whether it was intended or not."
He said that even though the coroner had said no-one was on trial, "I think his thrust was certainly that Mr Al Fayed was in the dock - that we weren't actually pursuing the truth so much, as trying to disprove Mr Al Fayed's firmly held beliefs which have been confirmed by many, many other independent investigators."He said that even though the coroner had said no-one was on trial, "I think his thrust was certainly that Mr Al Fayed was in the dock - that we weren't actually pursuing the truth so much, as trying to disprove Mr Al Fayed's firmly held beliefs which have been confirmed by many, many other independent investigators."
The inquest, being held at London's Royal Courts of Justice, could last for up to six months.The inquest, being held at London's Royal Courts of Justice, could last for up to six months.