BBC News Online: World: Europe

Diana paparazzi face privacy charges

Serge Benhamou and Laszlo Veres have been placed under judicial investigation for "breach of the intimacy of private life" following a suit filed by Mohammed Al Fayed, father of the princess's boyfriend, Dodi, who also died.

A third man, Jacques Langevin, was put under investigation two weeks ago.

The three men were among nine photographers and a press motorcyclist cleared of causing the accident in a 1999 inquiry, and again on appeal last October.

Diana, Dodi Al Fayed and their driver, Henri Paul, were killed in the high-speed crash in a tunnel under the Alma bridge in Paris on 31 August 1997.

Bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones was badly injured but survived.

A French judge, Herve Stephan, ruled that the driver had caused the crash by drinking alcohol, taking drugs and driving at excessive speed.

More court appearances

He said the photographers' behaviour did not constitute a crime under French law.

The case involves only pictures of Dodi Al Fayed because of all the victims, his family is the only one that has made the claim.

Other photographers who followed Diana's car that night from the Mr Fayed's Ritz Hotel are due to appear before the judge in the next few days, their lawyers say.

"The photographers did their job of providing information," said their lawyer, Virginie Bardet, after Monday's court session with Judge Muriel Josie.

"The first judge established that they weren't guilty of the death of Diana and Dodi Al Fayed. The questions is now, do we want to keep informed, or do we want to censor journalists?"