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Clue of second car followed up in Diana death inquiry

John Lichfield
Wednesday 17 September 1997 23:02 BST
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Police investigating the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, are searching for a Fiat Uno which may have collided with her Mercedes before the accident in Paris two weeks ago. The investigators also hope to have a first interview tomorrow with the only survivor, the bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, who is recovering in a Paris hospital.

Investigators say they have found slivers of plastic which may have come from the tail-light of a Fiat Uno. Although this may be debris from an earlier collision, the pieces were discovered among fragments of glass from the headlights of the Mercedes which carried Diana's party. Both the glass and plastic pieces were found near where the Mercedes hit a pillar holding up an underpass in central Paris. A scratch on the front wing of the Mercedes also points to a possible glancing collision.

The investigators are said to have excluded the possibility that the tiny, low-powered Fiat, if such a car were involved, belonged to photographers pursuing Diana and her companion, Dodi Fayed. Investigators believe the Mercedes, driven by Henri Paul, who also died, was travelling at 90 to 110mph. The Mercedes may have come upon another car going much slower and Paul was unable to swerve in time. Or another car may have joined the underpass from a slip-road. This is one of the main areas of uncertainty Paris police hope will be cleared up by Mr Rees-Jones.

A major security review was underway after an intruder was discovered by a maid inside Kensington Palace, the former London home of Diana, Princess of Wales, Scotland Yard said last night. A man in a "distressed and emotional state" was arrested near the palace in the early hours of Tuesday morning, a spokesman confirmed.

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