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Diana driver 'taunted paparazzi' Diana driver 'taunted paparazzi'
(about 1 hour later)
Princess Diana's driver Henri Paul taunted photographers on the night she died, an inquest has heard. Princess Diana's driver, Henri Paul, taunted photographers on the night she died, an inquest has heard.
Stephane Darmon told the High Court hearing Mr Paul looked like he wanted to be "centre stage" by the way he acted outside the Ritz in Paris. Stephane Darmon told the High Court hearing Mr Paul looked as if he wanted to be "centre stage" by the way he acted outside the Ritz in Paris.
Mr Darmon, a motorcyclist for one of the paparazzi, said Mr Paul had the telltale signs of being an alcoholic.Mr Darmon, a motorcyclist for one of the paparazzi, said Mr Paul had the telltale signs of being an alcoholic.
Earlier, Georges Dauzonne said he saw a white Fiat Uno swerving as it left the tunnel where Diana's car crashed.Earlier, Georges Dauzonne said he saw a white Fiat Uno swerving as it left the tunnel where Diana's car crashed.
'Playing game''Playing game'
Speaking by video link from Paris, Mr Darmon is the first from the paparazzi group to give evidence to the inquest.Speaking by video link from Paris, Mr Darmon is the first from the paparazzi group to give evidence to the inquest.
He said Mr Paul was "playing a game" with photographers who had gathered outside the hotel to try to take pictures of Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Al Fayed, who also died in the crash. He said Mr Paul was "playing a game" with photographers who had gathered outside the hotel to try to take pictures of Diana and her boyfriend, Dodi Al Fayed, who also died in the crash.
Mr Darmon told the court: "He was saying Lady Di is going to be there in about a quarter of an hour, etcetera."Mr Darmon told the court: "He was saying Lady Di is going to be there in about a quarter of an hour, etcetera."
He added: "He seemed to be very joyful. On a very personal note, I've got to say, my father was an alcoholic.He added: "He seemed to be very joyful. On a very personal note, I've got to say, my father was an alcoholic.
"When I saw Mr Paul, he reminded me of my father, his eyes, the way he acted, that's what I thought.""When I saw Mr Paul, he reminded me of my father, his eyes, the way he acted, that's what I thought."
'Adjusted mirror'
Mr Darmon said there was "panic" when the paparazzi realised Diana and Dodi had left from the rear of the Ritz.Mr Darmon said there was "panic" when the paparazzi realised Diana and Dodi had left from the rear of the Ritz.
He said photographer Romuald Rat, who he was driving for, received a phone call to say the couple were heading for the Place de la Concorde. 'Accelerated radically'
The Mercedes Diana and Dodi were travelling in crashed in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in the early hours of 31 August 1997. Mr Paul was also killed in the crash. The next time he saw their Mercedes was at traffic lights at the Place de la Concorde.
Mr Darmon said: "They waited to have some space, they waited for cars to turn round and, suddenly, when there was some space in front of them, the Mercedes accelerated radically, it took off just like a plane."
He said he and paparazzo Romuald Rat, who he was driving, only caught up with the vehicle Diana and Dodi were travelling in in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel, where it crashed in the early hours of 31 August 1997.
"There was a lot of smoke and there was a horn that was sounding, so I made the decision to go past it and I stopped a little bit further down the road," said Mr Darmon.
When he went back he said he was "shocked" to see a group of photographers taking pictures rather than helping.
In a statement at the time, Mr Darmon said Mr Rat had tried to help, but later told the court that the photographer had given him three films to for safe-keeping.
'Adjusted mirror'
Mr Dauzonne, giving evidence to the inquest, said at first he thought the driver of the Fiat Uno was drunk.Mr Dauzonne, giving evidence to the inquest, said at first he thought the driver of the Fiat Uno was drunk.
He said he saw the driver swerve right then left then right again as he adjusted his rear view mirror, and appeared to be "bothered" by something behind him. He said he saw the driver swerve right, then left, then right again as he adjusted his rear view mirror, and appeared to be "bothered" by something behind him.
Mr Dauzonne said: "My first impression was it was Saturday night at half past midnight in Paris, I thought someone drunk was driving that car - then I realised he was doing something with a mirror."Mr Dauzonne said: "My first impression was it was Saturday night at half past midnight in Paris, I thought someone drunk was driving that car - then I realised he was doing something with a mirror."
The inquest jury has been told there is evidence that a white Fiat Uno may have collided with the Mercedes just before it crashed into a pillar in the tunnel.The inquest jury has been told there is evidence that a white Fiat Uno may have collided with the Mercedes just before it crashed into a pillar in the tunnel.
The inquest heard Mr Dauzonne and his wife Sabine both picked out the same person as the driver of the Fiat from a line-up of photographs of possible drivers.
The pictures included another man who Mr Al Fayed's father, Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, believes was behind the wheel.
The hearing continues.The hearing continues.