France supports paparazzi in Diana inquest

LONDON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Authorities in France have decided not to force the paparazzi who witnessed the death of Britain's Princess Diana to take part in an inquest into her death.

Despite a plea from British Justice Secretary Jack Straw, French authorities maintained that the paparazzi witnesses should not be forced to offer evidence in the British inquest, The Daily Mail reported Tuesday.

That decision left Coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker with limited options regarding how to legally collect evidence from the photographers, who have refused to take part in a British hearing.

The witnesses had been following a car carrying Diana on Aug. 31, 1997, when it became involved in a high speed accident inside a Paris tunnel. The British princess died, along with two others inside the speeding automobile.

Baker said that French authorities chose not to alter their stance on the matter because of the witnesses' previous testimony on the matter and the French legal concept "Ordre Public."

"If force were used to compel witnesses to appear, this could damage relations between the media, the Government and the general public," Baker said.