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PRINCESS Diana and her lover Dodi al-Fayed were unlawfully killed by the grossly negligent driving of chauffeur Henri Paul and paparazzi photographers pursuing their limousine into a Paris road tunnel in 1997.

They found that the drink driving of Paul, who was also killed in the crash, was a contributory factor in their deaths, as was the fact that Diana and Fayed were not wearing seatbelts.

The jury, which had spent almost six months listening to more than 250 witnesses from around the world, reached their majority decision today after deliberating for four days.

Diana and Dodi died in August 1997 when their Mercedes limousine crashed in a Paris road tunnel whilst being pursued by paparazzi photographers.

Mohamed Al-Fayed "dissapointed"

Mohamed Al-Fayed, the father of Diana, Princess of Wales` boyfriend Dodi Fayed, maintained that the couple were murdered, after an inquest jury today returned a verdict of unlawful killing.

The Egyptian tycoon said he was "disappointed" by the verdict, which pinned the blame on the grossly negligent driving of Fayed`s chauffeur Henri Paul and the pursuing paparazzi pack.

"It`s been a long fight to uncover the truth about the deaths of my son Dodi and Diana, princess of Wales," Mr Al Fayed said in a statement read outside the High Court.

"I`m not the only person who says they were murdered. Diana predicted that she would be murdered and how it would happen.

"So I am disappointed.

"For 10 years, I have endured two police investigations. The French and the Scotland Yard inquiries were wrong. These inquests prove it.

"They said it was an accident and their findings are now dismissed.

"The jury have found that it wasn`t just the paparazzi who caused the crash, but unidentified following vehicles. Who they are and what they were doing in Paris is still a mystery."

Diana`s sons Princes William and Harry said they were "grateful" for the verdict.

"We agree with their verdicts, and are both hugely grateful to each and every one of them (the members of the inquest jury) for the forbearance they have shown in accepting such significant disruption to their lives over the past six months," the princes said in a statement released by Clarence House.

"We should like to thank the members of the jury at the inquests into the deaths of our mother and Dodi Fayed for the thorough way in which they have considered the evidence," the prices said.

They said they were "indebted to the Coroner, Lord Justice Scott Baker, for his unfailing courtesy, and for all the consideration shown by him and his staff not only to us but to all those involved in this hearing.

"We are particularly grateful to (the couple`s bodyguard) Trevor Rees, and to others who came forward to give evidence - in many cases reawakening their painful and personal memories.

"Finally, the two of us would like to express our most profound gratitude to all those who fought so desperately to save our mother`s life on that tragic night."

Inquest finally over

The inquest, estimated to have cost up to $US20 million ($21.71 million), stretched around the globe with witnesses heard by videolink from France, the United States, Nigeria, Kenya and Australia.

It was delayed for 10 years because Britain had to wait for the French legal process and then a British police investigation to run their course before it could begin.

Both police inquiries concluded the fatal crash was a tragic accident caused by the chauffeur being drunk and driving too fast.

Under British law, an inquest is needed to determine the cause of death when someone dies unnaturally.

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