UK NEWS

FILM TRAPPED DIANA’S BUTLER

Paul Burrell faces questions

Sunday February 24,2008

By Camilla Tominey

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DISGRACED royal butler Paul Burrell could face perjury charges after he was set up by a friend.

The Sunday Express has learned that the person who secretly filmed him confessing that he “didn’t tell the whole truth” at Princess Diana’s inquest had been his friend for three years.

Coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker has summoned the man the Princess, right, called her “Rock” back to the witness box after he was caught making the astonishing admission on camera earlier this month in a New York hotel.

He said of the inquest: “When you swear an oath you have to tell the truth. I didn’t tell the whole truth.

“Perjury is not a nice thing to have to contemplate. I was very naughty and I made a couple of red herrings and I couldn’t help doing it.

“I know you shouldn’t play with justice and I know it’s illegal and I realise how serious it is.”

A source close to Burrell revealed: “He was entrapped by one of his friends – he is devastated. This person approached Paul three years ago with an idea for a TV documentary on Diana. They were friends.

“They happened to be in New York at the same time and decided to meet up, but it was a trap. He believed he was speaking to a friend he could trust, but he was being filmed secretly.”

The coroner is understood to be examining footage of the meeting. It is understood there could be up to three hours of filming.

Burrell, 49, was plugging his Royal Butler Collection furniture, wine and rugs at a £5-a-head seminar in Florida at the weekend.

The coroner has no power to compel him to fly back to the UK because Burrell is outside his jurisdiction.

If Burrell refuses, however, the High Court could ask the US authorities for help.

LIVING IN TERROR

25.02.08, 10:03am

Paul Burrell knows far more than he dares to speak about. He could never reveal all if he wants to stay alive himself. If only he could though, how sensational it would be.

• Posted by: roatanrose • Report Comment

BURRELL THE 'PRAT'!

25.02.08, 7:17am

It's about time we stopped giving this idiot airtime and print space!! All he does is open a can of worms, with his lies, every time he opens his mouth!
He is an 'authority' on nothing, he's a blooming Butler for Gods sake keep him at floor level!!
Better still make him kneel, and off with his head!!

• Posted by: sal68 • Report Comment

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND. SOONER OR LATER BURRELL WAS GOING TO PUT HIS FOOT IN HIS MOUTH

24.02.08, 10:21pm

He talked so much about Diana's private thoughts, feelings, emotions, and devastation at the turmoil in her life, her divorce which must have taken a toll on her. No matter what the circumstances, Diana was the stunning centerpiece in a fairy tale wedding. (I will never forget the touching image of her falling asleep during it all). The tragedy of her divorce touched so many, so many grieved along with her. And she did grieve. She was let down badly. She thought she had a friend she could trust in Burrell.

Burrell let the princess down worst of all. His endless anecdotes about her private life are disgraceful. Now he has disgraced himself even more. It matters not if he tries to escape the consequences by staying in Florida, the whole world sees him revealed for what he is: a shyter, a liar, a profiteer of someone's misery. And a man without a conscience:

He said of the inquest: “When you swear an oath you have to tell the truth. I didn’t tell the whole truth. “Perjury is not a nice thing to have to contemplate. I was very naughty and I made a couple of red herrings and I couldn’t help doing it. “I know you shouldn’t play with justice and I know it’s illegal and I realise how serious it is.”

"Naughty"? Listen up Paul, in the US perjury is exactly that and nothing less and very serious. Shouldn't play with justice? You'd better not over here. You shouldn't have back in Britain. How naive to describe it as illegal and serious. People have spent a lot of time in jail because of it.

Come to think of it, a lot of reporters in the U.S. have gone to jail for failing to disclose their sources. But not one lowered himself to perjure himself to get off the hook. I hope they catch this bounder big time and boot him back to Britain.

• Posted by: Rothaymere • Report Comment

PEOPLE LIKE IT DESERVE NICE 'FRIEND/S'

24.02.08, 2:23pm

FACT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Posted by: LucianDeville • Report Comment

NOTHING MORE TO TELL?

24.02.08, 12:15pm

I feel it's time that Mr.Burrell just faded from the world's stage. He has had more then his 15 minutes of fame/or being infamous. He is no longer believeable, unless he has the evidence to back up any future claims he may wish to share.
It is no longer about supporting Princess Diana, it has become all about Paul Burrell, and money!
I just wonder what ever did happened to the little wooden box, that disappeared with it's contents..
NOW, if he could produce that box with contents still intact, that's another story..!

• Posted by: Kate • Report Comment

I WAS FURIOUS WITH PAUL BURRELL AND FELT THAT HE HAD LET PRINCESS DIANA DOWN....

24.02.08, 12:00pm

I was furious with Paul Burrell and felt that he had let Princess Diana down at the inquest, but now with all this latest information think he might have well witheld information because he/and/or he has been threatened and was scared.

Now with this latest news I think he is being got at for his revelations of all the good that Diana did when she was alive, like the times that she slippped out of the palace to go and give money to the prostitutes and told them to go home, the nights she visited different hospitals without the media knowing.

I think the powers that be will love the chance to get at him and lets face it I do believe that he has secrets to tell and that to discredit him or put him in jail would be their ultimate revenge.

I suppose the reason that he has witheld information is because he has promised the Queen when they held their private interview that he would not divulge any more information especially when she warned him of the dark forces out there.

Then the shop he and his wife opened got burned down, any one with an ounce of intelligence can see what is going on here and worst of it is the people are falling for it. They should realise that if a Princess can be eliminated that a mere butler has got no chance.

• Posted by: Nimue • Report Comment