French photographers defend refusal to co-operate with Diana inquest

Two French paparazzi who pursued Diana, Princess of Wales, shortly before her death today suggested they were refusing to co-operate with the inquest because they lacked confidence in proceedings.

In an interview with ITV’s 'News at Ten', Jacques Langevin and Nikola Arsov, said the release of their arrest photographs had turned them against the idea of attending.

The pair were among a group of photographers detained after the 1997 crash that resulted in the death of the Princess and Dodi Fayed.

Despite Justice Scott Baker vowing to leave “no stone unturned” in his bid to compel the paparazzi to appear at the inquest, both have declined to co-operate.

With the French authorities refusing to force them to comply with Baker’s request, it seems unlikely that lawyers will get to question the pair on their memory of events.

Asked if he owed it to history to give a final account of the incident, Mr Langevin said: “It’s not a question of honour or courage because at the very beginning I accepted to go or to talk via video link. And I talked to a representative of Judge Baker.

“But when I saw how it started I think for me the confidence is broken. That’s it. I have no confidence in the judge.

“I’m not scared, I’m not scared at all. But for me it’s no use to go, that’s it.”

Nikola Arsov told ITV 'News at Ten': “When I received the summons to a video link I thought well, why not give evidence?

“But then the British media published those arrest photographs. With a picture of me like that, well it frightened me. Somehow it implies we’re still guilty.”