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Diana pictures 'overstepped mark' Paparazzo offer for Diana photo
(about 1 hour later)
Photographers at the scene of the crash that killed Princess Diana would stop at nothing to get the pictures they wanted, a witness has told her inquest. A photographer rang a UK newspaper from the tunnel where Diana, Princess of Wales's car had crashed to offer exclusive pictures, her inquest heard.
French motorcyclist Stephane Darmon, who was driving one of the paparazzi in pursuit of Diana, said he felt their behaviour had "overstepped the mark". The photographs of the injured princess taken by Romuald Rat were offered to the Sun for £300,000, it was alleged.
The London inquest into Diana's death has heard Mr Darmon's claim that he was first to arrive at the crash in Paris. Earlier, a witness told the inquest that photographers at the scene of the crash would stop at nothing to get the pictures they wanted.
He told how photographers took pictures of the mangled wreck of her Mercedes. Stephane Darmon said their behaviour had "overstepped the mark".
Diana, her companion Dodi Al Fayed, and driver Henri Paul died as a result of the crash in the Pont d'Alma tunnel on 31 August 1997. Diana, her companion Dodi Al Fayed, and driver Henri Paul died as a result of the crash in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel on 31 August 1997.
The inquest jury, sitting at the High Court in London, heard part of an interview that was obtained by the coroner from Channel 4.
Kenneth Lennox, from the Sun, said in the interview he had been at home on the night of 30 August when he got a "slightly panicked" call.
Exclusive photographs
In a transcript read to the jury he said: "The French-speaking photographer Romuald Rat said he had got photographs of Diana being involved in a car crash and I could have them exclusively for the UK for £300,000.
"He said it was a serious crash. Dodi looked to be very badly injured. Diana looked to be very lightly injured, did not look too severely hurt at all.
"And he would get the photographs over to my electronic picture desk right now. I didn't waste time. I had to see these pictures, but in principle I said yes to buying them."
Romuald Rat took this image of Diana's crashed Mercedes
Mr Lennox said the photographs he received "jumped off the screen" at him - one showed Diana sitting in the car with a trickle of blood on her face.
A second showed a doctor attending to Diana with a portable oxygen mask.
Neither of these images were among photographs taken by Mr Rat in the tunnel that were later recovered by French police, the jury heard.
But Mr Darmon said Mr Rat could have got some of his pictures out of the underpass through another photographer before they were arrested by French police.
Mr Darmon, who was driving one of the paparazzi in pursuit of Diana on his motorcycle, earlier told the inquest that he was first to arrive at the crash in Paris, and he described how photographers took pictures of the mangled wreck of her Mercedes.
Irresponsible behaviour
Michael Mansfield QC, cross-examining Mr Darmon, asked him: "The behaviour of the paparazzi in the tunnel that night was irresponsible wasn't it?"Michael Mansfield QC, cross-examining Mr Darmon, asked him: "The behaviour of the paparazzi in the tunnel that night was irresponsible wasn't it?"
He answered: "For some of them, yes, I totally agree with you, for some of them, when they photographed the people inside, yes you are right."He answered: "For some of them, yes, I totally agree with you, for some of them, when they photographed the people inside, yes you are right."
'Scoop'
Mr Mansfield, who is representing Dodi's father Mohamed Al Fayed asked: "Some paparazzi will, do you agree, stop at nothing in order to get the picture they want?"Mr Mansfield, who is representing Dodi's father Mohamed Al Fayed asked: "Some paparazzi will, do you agree, stop at nothing in order to get the picture they want?"
Mr Darmon answered: "Obviously."Mr Darmon answered: "Obviously."
Mr Darmon's pillion passenger was photographer Romauld Rat, who he had been working with since lunchtime on Saturday August 30, when he drove him to Le Bourget Airport to photograph Diana and Dodi arriving on a private jet from Sardinia. Mr Darmon's pillion passenger was photographer Romauld Rat, who he had been working with since lunchtime on Saturday 30 August, when he drove him to Le Bourget Airport to photograph Diana and Dodi arriving on a private jet from Sardinia.
He told the inquest of a conversation that he and Mr Rat had shared in which the paparazzo had told him he was after a "scoop".He told the inquest of a conversation that he and Mr Rat had shared in which the paparazzo had told him he was after a "scoop".
The hearing at London's High Court continues.The hearing at London's High Court continues.