Photographer avoids Diana inquest

LONDON, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- A key photographer refused to testify in London at the inquest into Princess Diana's death in Paris a decade ago.

Romuald Rat was the first photographer to arrive on the scene after the Mercedes carrying Diana crashed in a tunnel, the BBC reported Tuesday. The crash also killed Diana's companion, Dodi Fayed, and the Mercedes' driver, Henri Paul.

Rat wrote inquest officials that he was "not prepared to give evidence by video link or at all, either today or any other day," the BBC reported.

The night of the crash, Rat allegedly phoned the Sun newspaper saying he would sell photos of Diana at the crash scene for $600,000, previous testimony at the inquest said.