The verdict is in.
After four days of deliberations, the inquest jury has declared Princess Diana's death an "unlawful killing", placing the blame on both the paparazzi and the "grossly negligent" driving of chauffeur Henri Paul.
Henri Paul was driving drunk, contributing heavily to the car losing control and smashing into a pillar in the Pont D'Alma Tunnel in Paris, France. The photographers who were chasing the car also bore heavy blame. On top of chasing the car, they prevented proper medical attention by taking pictures of a fatally injured Diana in the mangled car wreck and did not call 911 immediately. Finally, the fact that neither Dodi or Diana wore seatbelts also contributed to their untimely deaths.
Princes William and Harry of Wales, Diana's two children, thanked the inquest jury for their thorough work and agreed with the verdict delivered.
The $20 million inquest lasted 6 months will over 200 testimonies from many people close to both Diana and her lover Dodi al Fayed, including butler Paul Burrell and Dodi's father Mohammed Al Fayed. The coroner decided before the jury deliberations that there was not enough sufficient evidence to support al Fayed's theory that Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, had worked with MI5 in a plot to assassinate the princess to prevent her from marrying a Muslim man.
Al Fayed expressed disappointment at the verdict, claiming it was a blow to the millions who supported his theory. He also expressed anger that members of the Royal Family were not brought in to testify.
In closing remarks, Coroner Lord Scott Baker expressed hope that the verdict would bring closure to the case once and for all.
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