LONDON (Reuters) - The detective leading a investigation into the death of Princess Diana says he has found new witnesses and fresh evidence about the fatal car crash in a Paris road tunnel in 1997.

Sir John Stevens, a former chief of London's Metropolitan police who is heading an inquiry into the crash, refused to give any detail, but said: "We've got new witnesses and new forensic evidence".

Stevens was speaking during an interview at a literary festival in southern England where he is launching a book. His comments were reported in media on Wednesday.

A spokeswoman at London's Scotland Yard police headquarters said she had nothing to add to Stevens' comments at this stage. "The inquiry is ongoing," she said.



Diana, her companion Dodi al Fayed and their chauffeur Henri Paul were killed on August 31, 1997, when their Mercedes crashed after it sped away from the Ritz hotel in the French capital with paparazzi photographers in hot pursuit on motorbikes.

An inquiry by French authorities in 1999 ruled that the crash was caused by Paul being drunk and driving too fast.

But the circumstances of the crash still cause controversy.

Mohamed al Fayed, Dodi's father and the owner of the exclusive store Harrods, has said he believes his son and Diana were murdered by secret services because their relationship was embarrassing the royal household.

According to newspaper reports of his comments, Stevens said his team had completely dismantled the Mercedes car involved in the crash as part of his investigation. He also said he would deal with each and every conspiracy theory.

"At the end of the day we have to do a job that draws a line under this one way or another," he said.

Source: reuters

Quote:Stevens was speaking during an interview at a literary festival in southern England where he is launching a book. His comments were reported in media on Wednesday.

sorta tells a tale doesn't it.

raise a headline sell a book.

This reminds me of the `Who shot Kennedy` thing. This type of story will just run and run because it grabs the publics` interest so much, though I`m sure even this one will have a sell by date.