Boots raise Diana 'spy' theory

By Peter Hunt
Royal correspondent, BBC News

Jacques Morel said he was in the tunnel where Diana's car crashed

I never thought fancy footwear in a French tunnel would feature at the Diana inquest.

The fact it has shows how determined this coroner is to shine an at-times unforgiving light on some of the conspiracy theories surrounding the princess's death.

The reference to what someone was wearing emerged during the testimony of Jacques Morel. It was a surreal moment.

"So you don't want to talk about the man whose foot I stepped on?" asked this eyewitness via a video link in Paris.

"Not really," replied the somewhat weary barrister.

"It's very important," persisted Mr Morel.

"Go on then," came the answer.

'Dali moustache'

So it was we learned that in the Alma tunnel Jacques Morel trod on the foot of a man wearing pointy western boots.

He says he spoke to Mohammed Al Fayed hours after the crash and when he told him this, the Harrods owner said: "I knew they were there. They're the bastards that did it, the secret service."

For many in the court it was the first time they had learnt you could tell a spy by his boots, though Mr Al Fayed was supplied with other descriptive details.

The suspected agent with sore toes was muscular and had a moustache like Salvador Dali's, or a beer drinker in Ireland.

Mr Al Fayed, who was grieving the death of his son at the time of this alleged conversation, has no recollection of the telephone call.

Unpublished book

Jacques Morel has a colourful turn of phrase and a dramatic tale to tell.

He argues that the paparazzi had planned to block the Mercedes in the underpass to take pictures and to ask Diana and Dodi about their future plans, but the plan went wrong and the couple died by accident.

In an as yet unpublished book, based in part on a secret "explosive" dossier, he also alleges the driver Henri Paul was an MI6 agent and officers from the secret service were in Paris on the night of the crash.

He fears for his family's safety because of what he knows. He wants to move to a Caribbean island.

For nearly five hours over two days Mr Morel's version of events was subjected to detailed questioning.

Since 1997 he appears to have changed his account of what he witnessed.

'Right to know'

One QC questioned whether he had really been in the tunnel. "I don't think I dreamt it," retorted Mr Morel.

Another suggested he had no evidence - and he had no interest in the truth. He would write and say anything to make money.

"I want people to know the real truth," he replied. "The children of Princess Diana have a right to know."

Her dying moments have been recalled once again in court.

The jury has heard how her Mercedes was surrounded by photographers. One shouted to another, "she's alive, she's alive".

Passers-by attempted to restrain them. Damian Dalby, a volunteer firefighter at the time, who went to Diana's aid, recalled the princess exclaiming, "oh my God, oh my God".