Jury sees Di and Dodi moment
Princess Diana's last poignant moments with Dodi al Fayed just before they made their planned escape from the Ritz Hotel in Paris were today played to a jury. Princess Diana's last poignant moments with Dodi al Fayed just before they made their planned escape from the Ritz Hotel in Paris were today played to a jury.They were shown previously unseen hotel CCTV footage of Dodi with a protective arm around the 36-year-old princess, as Shropshire bodyguard Trevor Rees was seen making phone calls in the background. And as they waited for up to 10 minutes for the Mercedes to arrive, the couple were seen to affectionately bow their heads together. Other footage included the couple, Mr Rees and driver Henri Paul sharing a lift. Footage sourced from www.scottbaker-inquests.gov.uk. To see more video footage visit the official inquest website here. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
At 12.16am on August 31, 1997 the couple left the hotel to make their last fateful journey. Paul Carpenter, Metropolitan Police inspector, told the jury: "You will see Trevor Rees Jones run around the back of the car and get into the front right hand door. Almost immediately as Mr Rees closed his door the vehicle was driven off."
The jury also saw how Henri Paul waved to the only two paparazzi outside the rear entrance just before the Mercedes arrived. The photographers then moved into position opposite the hotel exit where Diana and Dodi, 42, were waiting inside the door.
The princess, wearing a dark jacket and white trousers, was also filmed "saluting" Henri Paul as it seemed she was telling them the escape plan.
The inquest was also shown footage of the paparazzi hysteria as the two decoy vehicles - a Mercedes and a Range Rover - moved off from the front of the hotel
At yesterday's hearing, other unseen images, including one of Diana smiling broadly in a lift at the Ritz, were also shown.
Footage sourced from www.scottbaker-inquests.gov.uk. To see more video footage visit the official inquest website here.
By Kirsty Marston in London
