What Happened To The Paparazzi Who Chased Diana?

May 2024 · 2 minute read

According to The Guardian, 10 photographers present at the crash were arrested by French authorities. As the couple had found themselves stalked by many of same individuals since they landed in France (the car they were in having been one they switched to, in the hopes of tricking the press), it was argued that the paparazzi bore at least indirect responsibility in the deaths. However, difficulties arose after that, as none admitted to being near the car the moment it crashed. 

Their defense ranged from the driver bearing sole responsibility (which was what the court eventually decided, per Los Angeles Times) to other photographers having escaped before the arrival of police — individuals who would have borne greater responsibility had they been arrested (or real). The prosecution meanwhile made optimistic claims that those most directly responsible for the crash could be identified for the jury. Nine wound up charged with manslaughter, but these charges were dropped within a few years. 

Jacques Langevin, Christian Martinez, and Fabrice Chassery eventually faced invasion of privacy charges, but the three were acquitted in 2003 — the initial ruling deemed that a public highway is not considered a private region, CBS News reported. Eventually, France's highest court sent the case to an appeals court, which ultimately ruled that each of the accused pay €1 (around $1.27) to Mohamed Al-Fayed, father of Dodi Fayed (via Irish Times).

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