Diana's former butler lied, says inquiry head

The head of the latest inquiry into the death of Diana, the late Princess of Wales, said Tuesday her former butler didn't tell the truth during his testimony.

Lord Justice Scott Baker, who is spending a second day summing up testimony heard during the six-month inquest, called Paul Burrell's behaviour at the inquiry "shabby."

"All in all, you may think Burrell's behaviour has been pretty shabby," said Scott Baker. "But beyond the extent to which it reflects on his honesty on whether other matters are true, you may think it has no impact on the means by which these people came to their deaths."

"It was blindingly obvious wasn't it, that the evidence that he gave in this courtroom was not the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."

He told the jury to "proceed with caution" when considering Burrell's testimony.

More than 250 witnesses have appeared at the inquest, which examined the Aug. 31, 1997, death of Diana and her companion Dodi Fayed during a car crash in a Paris tunnel. Driver Henri Paul, who British and French police probes have said was drunk at the wheel, also died.

On Monday, Baker Scott said there was no evidence supporting conspiracy theories of Mohamed Al Fayed, father of Dodi. Mohamed Al Fayed has accused Prince Philip of orchestrating Diana's death.

Burrell testified that some three months after the crash,the Queen warned him to be careful because there were unidentified forces at work in the country.

He refused to make a second appearance at the inquest after a British tabloid posted video of him saying he withheld information during his testimony.

The jury, which will be sent to deliberate on Wednesday, can choose from five verdicts:

• Unlawful killing through gross negligence.
• Unlawful killing by "following vehicles."
• Both of the above options.
• Accidental death.
• An open verdict, if the jury feels it didn't hear enough evidence.