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Al Fayed testifies in French probe of Diana's death

Mohamed Al Fayed

March 12, 1998
Web posted at: 9:29 a.m. EST (1429 GMT)

PARIS (CNN) -- Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed will get a chance to discuss his conspiracy theory Thursday when he goes before a Paris magistrate to testify in the inquiry into the death of his son, Dodi, and Princess Diana.

French officials insist they have no evidence of a conspiracy. They blame the August 31 car crash on excessive speed and the use of alcohol by the driver, Henri Paul, who also died.

But last month, Al Fayed, who is conducting his own investigation, told a British tabloid he thinks the crash was not an accident.

"I believe in my heart, 99.9 percent, that it was not an accident. There was a conspiracy, and I will not rest until I have established exactly what happened," he told The Mirror.

Herve Stephan

"I will find the person who caused this accident. I believe there were people who did not want Dodi and Diana to be together," he told the newspaper.

Investigating magistrate Herve Stephan, whom Al Fayed is to see for a closed-door meeting scheduled for 3 p.m. (1400 GMT), is said to be unhappy with Al Fayed's public statements.

Stephen reportedly intends to confront Al Fayed with questions raised in Al Fayed's own investigation -- which included interviews with more than 90 employees of the Hotel Ritz.

The Hotel Ritz, owned by Al Fayed, is where Diana and Dodi had dinner the night of the crash. It is also the hotel that employed Paul.

Mohamed Al Fayed is conducting his own investigation into the August 31 crash

French officials say their evidence indicates Paul's blood alcohol level was well over the legal limit and that he had taken prescription drugs the night of the crash.

There also has been the suggestion that hotel officials may have tried to cover up the extent to which hotel staff knew of Paul's possible drinking problem.

Al Fayed is expected to tell Stephan that he has confidence in the French inquiry into the crash, which occurred in the tunnel under the Place de l'Alma in central Paris. The only survivor was bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones.

Al Fayed's appearance before Stephan is routine, because he is considered a civil plaintiff in the criminal inquiry. Civil plaintiffs are eligible to share damages awarded by Paris courts, and magistrates normally interview them.

Correspondent Jim Bittermann, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

A Nation Mourns: As the world looks on, Britain buries a princess The Death of Princess Diana: Coverage of the accident, the investigation, and global reaction

Related stories:

• Diana's Will: The full text - March 4, 1998
• Fiat Uno's link to Diana crash disputed - February 13, 1998
• Dodi's dad says fatal wreck was no accident - February 12, 1998
• Diana and Dodi: The Romance
• New book says Diana, Dodi planned to marry - February 7, 1998
• Investigators skeptical over reports of Diana 'mystery car' - February 2, 1998

Related sites:

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• Britain in the USA: The Death of Princess Diana
• Diana, Princess of Wales

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