Channel 4 sued over Diana death crash photo

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Channel 4 is being sued for allegedly stealing' the image of the dying Princess Diana in last week's controversial documentary.

Lawyers for Fabrice Chassery and David Ker say they wrote to Channel 4 on behalf of the two photographers demanding their shots be not used.

And they say a copy of the letter went to Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to Princes William and Harry, who had protested on their behalf against the pictures being used.

PHOTO ROW: Diana shot 'was stolen'

Mr Chassery said that in February the show's producer, Janice Sutherland, met him and showed him eight photos of the 1997 Paris car crash in which Diana died, including the notorious one of a doctor administering first aid in vain to the Princess.

He said seven of the photos had been taken by him and one by David Ker before either of them realised how seriously Diana was injured.

Mr Chassery said: These pictures were taken away by the Paris police ten years ago and are supposed to still be under lock and key.

I told Janice they must have been stolen. We had a number of meetings and were offered thousands of euros.

Janice kept saying, “We have a big budget.” But I told her, “Do not use the picture. You have to think about how this will upset William and Harry. It is wrong.” She just said they had got another picture from someone else.

I am the only photographer who has ever laid claim to having taken this picture. I have never sought to profit from it but I want damages from Channel 4 for stealing it and I want it never to be shown again.'

A few hours before the programme went out, Channel 4 delivered a letter to the photographers' lawyer arguing that following a French court case last July, the copyright of the photos was still in dispute

A Channel 4 spokeswoman said it would be wholly inappropriate' to comment, saying that the matter was in the hands of its lawyers.

But she added: Channel 4 has been advised there has been no infringement of any copyrights in any photographs in the programme.'

Meanwhile, BOOTS have apologised after being accused of disgracing' its position as one of the Queen's official suppliers by advertising during the controversial documentary.

A Boots spokeswoman said: By advertising during the documentary we are not necessarily endorsing it. If our advert caused offence to anyone watching, Boots apologises.'

Two other Royal Warrant holders, BT Broadband and Dettol-makers Reckitt Benckiser – also accused by Diana's close friend Rose Monckton of cashing in' by advertising during Wednesday's show – refused to apologise.

 

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