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Diana driver 'had drink problem' Diana driver 'had drink problem'
(about 1 hour later)
Scientists hired by Mohamed Al Fayed to question findings on Henri Paul's blood alcohol levels believed he had a drink problem, the Diana inquest has heard.Scientists hired by Mohamed Al Fayed to question findings on Henri Paul's blood alcohol levels believed he had a drink problem, the Diana inquest has heard.
Mr Paul was driving the car in which Princess Diana was killed in 1997 alongside Mr Al Fayed's son, Dodi.Mr Paul was driving the car in which Princess Diana was killed in 1997 alongside Mr Al Fayed's son, Dodi.
He might not have seemed drunk as he may have built up an alcohol tolerance through heavy drinking, the jury heard. But the jury heard he might not have seemed drunk as he may have built up a tolerance through heavy drinking.
Post-mortem tests indicated Mr Paul had been about three times over the French drink-drive limit.Post-mortem tests indicated Mr Paul had been about three times over the French drink-drive limit.
The jury heard that such alcohol levels would have left an "average man" looking "markedly impaired".The jury heard that such alcohol levels would have left an "average man" looking "markedly impaired".
CCTV footage from the night of the crash shows Mr Paul walking around the Ritz Hotel in Paris apparently unimpaired - even bending over to tie his shoe lace at one point.CCTV footage from the night of the crash shows Mr Paul walking around the Ritz Hotel in Paris apparently unimpaired - even bending over to tie his shoe lace at one point.
However, bar receipts from the hotel suggest he purchased two large measures of Ricard, a strong aniseed spirit.However, bar receipts from the hotel suggest he purchased two large measures of Ricard, a strong aniseed spirit.
Alcohol problemAlcohol problem
Harrods owner Mr Al Fayed - whose son Dodi was killed along with Diana and Mr Paul - believes samples may have been switched at the Paris morgue to cover up a murder plot orchestrated by intelligence services.Harrods owner Mr Al Fayed - whose son Dodi was killed along with Diana and Mr Paul - believes samples may have been switched at the Paris morgue to cover up a murder plot orchestrated by intelligence services.
The court has heard that Mr Al Fayed dispatched Prof Peter Vanezis - who was then professor of forensic medical sciences at Glasgow University - to Paris two days after the crash hoping to conduct a second post-mortem examination on Mr Paul's body.The court has heard that Mr Al Fayed dispatched Prof Peter Vanezis - who was then professor of forensic medical sciences at Glasgow University - to Paris two days after the crash hoping to conduct a second post-mortem examination on Mr Paul's body.
The jury heard that French authorities refused him permission but that he was later given pathologists' reports to analyse.The jury heard that French authorities refused him permission but that he was later given pathologists' reports to analyse.
The professor raised concerns about the quality of the initial blood test taken from Mr Paul's body but he was later given results of the analysis of other samples, including hair and vitreous humour, which pointed to Mr Paul having been drinking.The professor raised concerns about the quality of the initial blood test taken from Mr Paul's body but he was later given results of the analysis of other samples, including hair and vitreous humour, which pointed to Mr Paul having been drinking.
'Regular drinker' There is no doubt that the average man's faculties would have been markedly impaired but a regular drinker like Mr Paul is likely to have been impaired less Profs Vanezis and Oliver
The court heard that Prof Vanezis - now of Barts and the London [Queen Mary University of London] - later produced a joint report with forensic toxicologist Prof John Oliver, Swiss forensic pathology professor Thomas Krompecher and Patrice Mangin, professor of legal medicine at Lausanne University.The court heard that Prof Vanezis - now of Barts and the London [Queen Mary University of London] - later produced a joint report with forensic toxicologist Prof John Oliver, Swiss forensic pathology professor Thomas Krompecher and Patrice Mangin, professor of legal medicine at Lausanne University.
Their conclusion stated: "Looking at the overall picture, it may be fairly clearly observed that Mr Paul had an alcohol problem and he drank high levels of alcohol regularly."Their conclusion stated: "Looking at the overall picture, it may be fairly clearly observed that Mr Paul had an alcohol problem and he drank high levels of alcohol regularly."
Giving evidence to the inquest, Prof Vanezis said: "One of the things obviously we were considering, and obviously this was very much at the top of our minds, was whether or not that person that appeared normal in the CCTV images may well have built up a tolerance to alcohol."Giving evidence to the inquest, Prof Vanezis said: "One of the things obviously we were considering, and obviously this was very much at the top of our minds, was whether or not that person that appeared normal in the CCTV images may well have built up a tolerance to alcohol."
The report continues: "There is no doubt that the average man's faculties would have been markedly impaired but a regular drinker like Mr Paul is likely to have been impaired less."The report continues: "There is no doubt that the average man's faculties would have been markedly impaired but a regular drinker like Mr Paul is likely to have been impaired less."
'Grave reservations'
The jury was also told that the experts also had doubts about whether the blood samples tested were even Mr Paul's.
The scientists were said to have expressed "grave reservations" and called for independent testing.
And, despite early suggestions that Mr Paul had alcohol problems, no checks were made on his liver.
In addition to this, the scientists also felt that the identification procedure of Mr Paul's body, the collection, labelling and overall chain of custody of the samples did not "meet the standards applicable in the UK".
It emerged that questions still remain about the number of blood samples taken, when and from where.