'Diana left her items with the man she trusted'

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Police pursuing a 'trophy trial', says princess's butler

For a man who has watched the world's publicity machine chase the princess who trused him, Paul Burrell's appearance yesterday in the maelstrom of the press, to answer charges of petty pilfering from her home, was unsparing.

The global fascination with Princess Diana, who called him her rock, has apparently abated little in the four years since Mr Burrell kept all-night watch on her body, before her funeral. Camera crews watched him go to court to deny stealing 414 of her belongings. He arrived 15 minutes early, but only to find the court building locked. Stranded outside, he could not escape the cameras.

As he left Bow Street magistrates in east London yesterday, there was even a physical threat; a scuffle broke out in the foyer when a shaven haired man appeared to aim a kick at him before being restrained by a security guard.

The former butler, 43, who now classifies himself a writer, looked shaken and was ushered away by his lawyer, before departing in a taxi. His suspected assailant was finally restrained by police outside the courts, then released without charge.

The five-minute court hearing focused again on the bizarre paraphernalia that Mr Burrell is alleged to have taken. Coat hangers and a bag containing cotton wool balls are among a police list of allegedly stolen goods, which also included high-heel shoes, signed CDs, designer clothes and personal letters and photographs. He is also accused of taking an Indiana Jones bull whip belonging to the Prince of Wales and a Baywatch card autographed by the actor David Hasselhoff, and sent by Prince William.

The majority of the items, however, belonged to his former employer. A letter the princess wrote to John Major, prime minister at the time, and another she received from the late Mother Teresa, as well as photographs of her sons' birthday parties, are all among the alleged haul worth millions.

In the packed surroundings of the small court, Mr Burrell stood in the dock, tanned and smartly attired in a blue suit, check shirt and tie, and spoke in quiet, clipped tones to give his address and date of birth.

To each of the three charges of theft, relating individually to the Princess of Wales's estate, her former husband and eldest son, he answered: "Not guilty."

At the back of the court, listening intently to the accusations levied against a man who served the royal family for 21 years, were onlookers, perhaps awaiting what one solicitor called the day's "usual run-of-the-mill, West End ... crack dealers, shoplifters and toms".

Afterward, Mr Burrell's solicitor, Andrew Shaw, emerged on the court steps, only minutes after an unseemly fight between two TV crews was quelled.

Mr Shaw said: "We will show that the trust placed in Paul Burrell was appropriately placed, and shall demonstrate as fully as we need the closeness of his professional relationship to the princess.

"He has been charged without the full and proper scrutiny of the facts. The public believes that it knows Paul Burrell as a man who was and could be trusted. Our belief is that possessed of the true and full information, a jury will feel the same way." He insisted his client had provided a 39-page statement accounting for every item taken from his house, many of which, he claimed, were bought by his wife, Maria.

"Mr Burrell was charged with the theft of many items in charge two, upon the basis that they looked like items that the princess would have worn, without identification of the fact that she actually did wear or ever own any of them. Princess Diana trusted Paul Burrell, she called him her rock. As to the photographs and letters, the princess died prematurely ... she placed items with the man she trusted, instead of professional advisers, and instead of with her family.

"They were not on display in Mr Burrell's house, nor even looked at, but were kept safe, that is what she wanted.

"The death of the princess left the Burrell family without a home or a job. I have read it today in one of the statements that the prosecution have kindly given, and it confirms the fact that Paul Burrell was hugely affected by all of this, and may have mummified some of her possessions instead of dealing with them. But he did not steal them. And those that know him, believe him."

Mr Shaw said the defence would be demanding the "true witnesses" give direct evidence – a statement taken as hinting that royal family members could be called to the trial.