February 18, 2008
Posted: 614 GMT

LONDON, England – If the public following the inquest into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and her lover expected a showdown in Court 73 from Mohamed Al Fayed , they certainly got one.

The billionaire father of Dodi Al Fayed, who died in a car crash with Diana, was testifying in the inquest into the couple's death. And within minutes, the teary-eyed Egyptian called the August 1997 crash "hot murder."

"I will not rest until I die. If I lose everything to find the truth," Al Fayed told the court.

Al Fayed repeated his allegations that the royal ramily was responsible for the crash, that Diana was pregnant and that the couple was about to announced their engagement. Allegations a string of other witnesses have denied.

When an inquest lawyer challenged Al Fayed as to why he didn't tell everybody as soon as he knew about Diana and Dodi"s alleged engagment, Al Fayed tersely replied, "it was one hour before they were murdered. Am I going to announce it after they were dead?"

He also added his allegation that Prince Philip - the husband of the Queen - couldn't bear to have a Muslim be stepfather to the future king of England.

Al Fayed then let out a torrent of claims and exhortations: That members of the Royal family were racist and that he deserved a fair hearing in court because he had brought so much business into the UK.

Some of his curt answers actually drew laughter from members of the public watching the testimony via video in an adjourning room.

"Diana suffered for 20 years from this Dracula family," Al Fayed said, to chuckles inside and outside the court.

Some of the exchanges would be funny, were it not so clear that Al Fayed is still grieving for his son - and is clearly disturbed by suggestions his version of events are "hallucinations."

The inquest continues...

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Filed under: London


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Brian   February 20th, 2008 1423 GMT

The royal family could not face the embarassment or their former princess getting married to anyone, certainly not anyone "brown". England has tried to make the world their own for a thousand years, how could they live with a muslim as step-father to their heirs? Has anyone looked into the Queen's involvement?

Haley Bravo   February 20th, 2008 2255 GMT

People make comments about Sen.Hillary Clinton every day she's negative she's this she's that . Know one can become Senitor twice in New York , very intelligent and successful have worked in the public as a politican for 35 yrs. She sends a positive message to the democrate party . This negativeness is a bunch of crock from the Media and Republican Party.

Haley,
Detroit, MI

Nigel Graham-Miller   February 21st, 2008 1547 GMT

Mohamed Al Fayed is a bitter and twisted old man with several axes to grind. If you look at the evidence and the mistakes Fayed made on that night can understand that he has to lash out at someone. Fayed changed the car, the route, the 2nd car with security was withdrawn and the driver changed.
Mohamed Al Fayed has applied for and been refused British citizenship on several occasions and this he cannot come to terms with. He calls Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh a racist and nazi and tells him to go back to Germany. Prince Phillip was born on Corfu, Greece of a British mother and Greek father.
The more time that Mohamed Al Fayed spends in the witness box the sillier he looks. His first presentation had people laughing in the public gallery and in the annex watching on a video link.
What happened was a accident and no more and it's time Mohamed Al Fayed accepted this.

Rufus D'Souza   March 4th, 2008 1127 GMT

Mohamed Al Fayed is understandably greived about the death of his son. That he is angry about then opposition of the Royal Family to the princess' liason with his son Dody is nothing to be surprised about.

Subsequent revelations about Diana's quickie love affairs, with among others, her own body guard should give Al Fayed solace that he does not have to put up with what we in India describe as a 'CHALU' -a fast one – for a daughter-in-law.

Stella   March 4th, 2008 1935 GMT

Diana and Dodi are dead, let them rest in peace, it is shameful enough that these two carried on in a manner that only attracted scorn for the rich and privileged, why rake up the scandals and acrimony....Diana left two sons-fine officers who are having to cope with the unnecessary tirade from Mohammed Al-Fayed..do they have to relive every harrowing moment since the crash?The British need not nitpick... and emotions should not suggest that decency has been thrown to the dogs....we need to move on if only to protect what ever decency Diana Princess of Wales (may)still have...pregnant, engaged,my goodness this is slush at its worst and this inquest just might rob the Mother of the future King of England of enduring qualities she may have possessed in her lifetime....

Gabrielle Lange   March 8th, 2008 604 GMT

I am puzzled with America. They spend billions to get Hussein. Now they want to vote as president another HUSSEIN. They have a dedicated senator in public service now they want to try something new untested. They ask you barrage of questions before accepting as ordinary government worker, now thwy want to be lead by a neophyte.Of course the male American is NOT ready for a female leader.!!!!!!!!!

Simon Yu   March 14th, 2008 1130 GMT

Well, something sad happened.....

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